222 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



large dark brown spots with black centres (the low^er one being the 

 largest), and one very small spot on the outward third of the upper 

 wing. These spots are surrounded with a ring of pale yellow. On 

 the lower wings are iive large dark l)rown spots, similar to those 

 above. These are arranged as shown in the accompanying figure. 

 The margins of all four wings are darker, and are fringed with white 

 interrupted with tufts of l)rown scales at the ends of the veins. 

 Two pale grayisli lines follow the outer margins of the wings. The 

 thorax is gray, the head and abdomen yellowish brown. The under 

 side is very prettily uiarked ; the general color is about the same as 

 the upper side except that there is a slightly jjinkish tinge ; but 

 running across both sets of wings, from near tlie middle of the upper 

 margin of the upper wings, is a wide irregular bar of gray brown, 

 with several indentations and projections on the outer edge. This 

 bar is outlined on both edges with a line of brown. Outside of this 

 is a light yellowish gray area. On the outer third of the upper wing 

 is a row of line blackish brown spots of various sizes. These are 

 each pupilled with white and encircled with a yellow ring. Outside of 

 this, and enclosing the row of spots, is a line of whitish. The lower 

 wing is also supplied with a number of spots similar to those on the 

 upper wing. The whitish line is also continued, tlie large spot near 

 the upper margin, and the double spot at the lower end of the row, 

 being encircled by it, while it follows as a wavy line on both sides 

 of the other spots. The entire margin is darker, and a light gray 

 line follows it on both wings. The body and legs are light yellow- 

 ish ; the abdomen near the thorax is white. 



This insect inhabits the whole eastern half of tlie continent, but 

 is very rare in New England so far as my ex})erience goes, although 

 it is a common butterfly in several of the western states. It inhabits 

 wooded districts, particularly the growtlis of willows along rivers. 

 It is apparently somewhat gregarious, as in walking along the banks 

 of a stream where coarse grasses grow among the trees, one will 

 frequently start it up in numbers, but onlj' in a S])ace covering a few 

 square rods. I have seen it very abundant in Iowa, about the mid- 

 dle of July, along the Iowa and Skunk rivers. The insects usually 

 alight on the tree truidvs and among the coarse grasses, and fly but a 

 short distance in a slow and uncertain maimer, so that one ma}' catch 

 them in tlie hands even while on the wing. When not disturbed, 

 they move and turn al)Out at sliort intervals as if in play, or to take 

 in tlie view from every direction. The insects vary a good deal in 



