284 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



from a dozen to a hundred in a small space of a few square rods. It 

 is an easily captured species when once found as it is not shy ; its 

 flight is feeble and is not long sustained. It rarely comes into the 

 upland fields or gardens. There is but one brood in a season, the 

 butteifly making its a[>pearance about the middle of June, and con- 

 tinuing to fly for about a month. Tlie female lays her eggs in a 

 cluster on the snake head {Chelone glabra), and when the caterpil- 

 lars hatch they spin a web, drawing the leaves together at the top 

 of the plant. In this web or nest they live and feed until cold 

 weather, when they cease feeding, and remain in it in a dormant 

 state througliout the winter. In the spring they again commence 

 feeding, and when their growth is complete, they separate and seek 

 a retreat in which to pupate. 



The larva is covered with stiff black bristles, and the chrysalis 

 is gray with dark brown spots. 



Many grand butterflies belong to the genus Argymiis and sev- 

 eral of the finest of the group are natives of the eastern half of the 

 United States, where at certain seasons they are among the most 

 abundant of butterflies. 



Many of the species are of good size and very beautiful. The 

 usual color of the wings is reddish tan or brownish orange with 

 shai'ply defined dark brown or black markings in the shape of ir- 

 regular lines and spots, while beneath, the ground color is generally 

 somewhat lighter. On the upper wings, except along the outer mar- 

 gin and in the space at the upper angle, the markings of the upper 

 side are repeated, but are less sharply defined. The lower wings and 

 the outer margins of the upper pair are usually adorned with bril- 

 liant satiny white spots, which look as if made of silver and highly 

 polished. 



In a few of the species the males and females differ gi'eath', but 

 in the majority of kinds they are mucli alike. 



According to Mr. Comstock, '^ More than fifty species occur in 

 America north of Mexico." Man}^ kinds resemble each other 

 closely, so that they are at times ver}^ difficult to separate. jNIr. 

 Holland, writing of this genus, says, "Owing to the fact that there 

 is a great tendency in many of the forms closely to approximate one 

 another, the accurate distinction of many of the species has troubled 

 naturalists, and it is quite probable that some of the so-called species 

 will ultimately be discovered to be merely local races or vaiietal 

 forms." 



