398 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



merit. The chrysalis is about one inch in length. It is 

 bright green, dotted with gold. 



This species occurs throughout the greater part of the 

 United States, and is distributed far beyond our borders. 



Fig. 469. — Anosia plexippus. 



It is believed, however, that the species dies out each year in 

 a large part of the Northern States, and that those butter- 

 flies which appear first in this region, in June or July, have 

 flown hither from the South, where they hibernate in the 

 adult state. In the extreme South they fly all winter. 

 Great swarms, including many thousands of individuals of 

 this species, are sometimes seen. 



Subfamily NYMPHALINiE (Nym-pha-li'nae). 

 The Typical NympJialids {Nym-pJia' lids). 



The butterflies of this subfamily vary so much in the 

 outline and ornamentation of the wings that it is impossible 

 to briefly characterize them. The student, however, will 

 have no difficulty in distinguishing them by means of the 

 table of subfamilies already given. Our genera represent 

 five quite distinct groups, as follows: — 



I . The Crescent-spots or the Melitceids (Mel-i-tae'ids). — This 

 group includes some of the smaller members of the Nym- 



