VANESSA FURCILLATA. 95 



as Urtica^ Atalanta^ &c. The name of Cynthia is now 

 rejected, and the old Vanessians are divided into several 

 genera, of which Grapta, Kirby, includes interrogationis^ 

 C. alhum^ coma^ progne^ &c. ; Vanessa includes J. alhum^ 

 Milburti^ (furcillata, Say,) Antiopa ; Pyrameis includes 

 Atalanta^ Cai'dui^ and Tlnntera^ and Junonia includes 

 Omnia ^ &c. 



"The Vanessa furcillata of Say is the Milhei'ti previ- 

 ously described by Godart, in the Encyclopedie Methodique. 

 The following remarks follow a specific description of it in 

 my manuscript: 'This showy butterfly is rare in the vicinity 

 of Boston, but abundant in the northwestern part of Massa- 

 chusetts and New Hampshire. It appears in May, and 

 again in July and August. The cateri^illars live together 

 on the common nettle. They vary in color, some being 

 much darker than others ; generally, however, they are pale 

 brown, minutely dotted with yellowish white, with a dark 

 brown longitudinal line on the top of the back, a whitish 

 one on each side just above the feet, and above this a row 

 of brown spots. The head is small, black and rough, with 

 little black and white tubercles. The spines on the body 

 are blackish, short and with very small branches or lateral 

 bristles. It measures, when fully grown, one inch and a 

 quarter, or more, in length. The chrysalis is pale brown, 

 with golden spots ; the top of the head widely but not deeply 

 notched, and the nose-like i^rominence very small." 



" I might have added to the foregoing that the caterpillars 

 of V. Milhicrti do not conceal themselves each separately 

 in a folded leaf like those of Pyrameis, Atalanta^ Cardui 

 and Huntera^ but live exposed on the leaves and stems of 

 the plant. Caterpillars of the first brood are found on the 

 nettle in June and July; those of the second brood in August 

 and September. The chrysilis state, from caterpillars of the 

 second brood, seems to continue during the winter. 



"In a collection of insects lately sent to Prof. Agassiz 

 from Missouri, I saw fine specimens of your Lybithea Bach- 

 manii^ and one or two each of Apatura Clyton and A. 



