280 



MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



side, as the uccompanying illustrations will show, some being almost 

 one plain gray tint, while others are marked with bands of brown, 

 gray and white. 



This is a northern species, ranging over the northern temperate 

 parts of the continent. I have never seen the larva, but, according 

 to Mr. W. J. Holland, it feeds on the different species of willow. 

 Mr. G. H. French says, '^ The chrysalis is one inch long, of a beau- 

 tiful green color, delicately reticulated, with six golden spots on 

 the back." The perfect insect is sometimes very common, especially 

 in the hilly portions of New Hampshire, where one may take it in 



Urapta j-albiini. Under side. 



July in numbers. ( )ne of my brothers succeeded in taking several 

 hundred perfect specimens of this species near Madison, in New 

 Hampshire, last season. They were wild and shy, but were quite 

 abundant. Tliey frequented little used country loads, where they 

 usually rested on the damp earth, sometimes several close together. 

 When frightened they flew up and aliglited on the trunks of poplar- 

 trees, with their wings folded close together, the gra}^ and brown 

 color of the side exposed to view giving them the appearance of 

 partiall}' loosened pieces of bark. When struck at with a net while 

 on the wing they sometimes feigned death by closing their wings 

 and falling onto tlie road, witli which their colors readily harmo- 



