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MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



This insect makes its appearance in July, and is sometimes seen 

 in some abundance. The females are much less common than tlie 

 males. A collector friend of mine who had never seen this insect 

 alive, was out with a net one day in Western Virginia, and came 

 suddenly upon three of tliese fine insects, two males and one female, 

 in the road. They immediately rose in the air and circled about him, 

 while my friend was so much surprised and so fearful, that they 

 would leave if he made the least motion, that he stood like a statue 

 not daring to make a strike lest he sliould miss, until they were well 

 out of his reach. 



Argyiiiiis cybele. Male. 



Argynnis cyhele is also a large and very handsome butterfly. 

 The sexes generally differ a good deal in size, the male being the 

 smaller, while its markings are less heavy, and the ground color 

 is lighter and more reddish. On the under side, too, the female 

 is darker than the male, the silvery spots showing to better 

 advantage. 



During July this insect is one of our most abundant species, 

 frequenting flowering plants growing in meadowy land, particu- 

 larly the swamp milkweeds, on the pink clusters of which one 

 will often see two or three of these fine butterflies. 



It is a swift flaying insect but does not seem to be sliy when 

 feeding. 



