142 



THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 



tical spots, each spot consisting of two curved black lines, inclosing 

 superiorly a bright crimson space, and interiorly a pale yellow line-" 

 the whole row of spots connected by a pale yellow stripe, edged 

 above with black. In some specimens these eye-like spots are dis- 

 connected, and the space between the black crescents is of a uniform 

 •cream-yellow. The breathing-holes are either surrounded with black, 

 or with black edged with yellow. The other form is black, and char- 

 acterized chiefly by a yellow line along the back, and a series of pale 

 yellow spots and darker yellow dots, as represented in the illustra* 



[Fig. 02.] 



tion (Fig. G2). Even this dark form is subject to great variation, some 

 specimens entirely lacking the line along the back, and having the 

 spots of different shape. 



This insect has a wide range, as it occurs in the West Indies, Mex- 

 ico and Canada, as well as throughout the United States. Feeding, 

 as it does, principally on plants of but little value, and being very 

 commonly attacked by the larva of aTachina-fiy, this insect has never 

 become sufficiently common to be classed as injurious. The Tachina- 

 lly which so commonly infests it, is readily distinguished from the 

 other more common form by the abdomen, which is bright rufous with 

 the exception of a broad dorsal stripe which is dark. 



TWO OF OUR COMMON BUTTERFLIES. 



THEIR NATURAL HISTORY ; WITH SOME GENERAL REMARKS ON TRANSFORM- 

 ATION AND PROTECTIVE IMITATION AS ILLUSTRATED BY THEM. 



In the following pages i propose to give the complete natural 

 history of two of our commonest butterflies, and to close with such 

 philosophical thoughts as the subject warrants. I do so the more 

 willingly as many of the facts are published for the first time ; for 

 notwithstanding the butterflies are so common, their complete natu- 

 ral history has hitherto been unknown, 



