621 LEPIDOPTERA. 



delicate, straight, or zig-zag lines on the under side of the rings. 

 Some species frequent hedges, others the oak and ash trees. 



The NymphalidtjB, (Nympha, a nymph,) include many beauti- 

 ful Butterflies, called Red and White ADMIRALS, PAINTED LADIES, 

 FRITTELARIES, the front legs of which appear incomplete, but in 

 their ability for strong flight, they are more than compensated for 

 the deficiency of their feet. The genus Vanessa includes many 

 species, of which V. lo, PEACOCK BUTTERFLY, is pictured on the 

 Chart. 



The TORTOISE-SHELL BUTTERFLY, V. urlica, (Lat. of a nettle,) 

 nearly resembles the Peacock Butterfly. The Caterpillers live in 

 societies, changing their skins frequently, and constructing a new 

 tent on another part of the plant at each moult, until the last, when 

 each individual feeds by itself, and the society is dissolved. 



The SKIPPERS, Hesperiidce, (leading genus Hesperia,) have 

 the four hind shanks furnished with two pairs of spurs. They 

 have a jerking kind of flight, from which their popular name is 

 derived ; and in many respects, they approach the moths. 



The TITYRUS SKIPPER, Eudamus tityrus, often strips the locust 

 tree of its foliage. It forms its habitation of the leaves of that 

 tree bound together by silken threads, and also feeds upon its 

 leaves. 



II. The Hawk- Moths, Sphingida, (leading genus Sphinx,) are 

 also named Humming-Birds, being capable of flying for a long 

 time, and of poising themselves in the air, like the Humming- 

 Bird. (See Chart for figures of Sphinx ligustri, or Privet-Hawk- 

 Moth, in the larva, pupa, and imago or perfect state.) Many 

 beautiful species of Hawk-Moths are seen on fine summer 

 evenings. The Philampelus, (Gr. vine-lover,) Satellitia^ is of 

 this family, (for figure of which see Chart.) 



III. MOTHS. 



The TIGER-MOTHS, Arctiida, (Arctia,) have the feelers and 

 tongue usually short and thick, and the antennae doubly feath- 

 ered; both the Caterpillars and Moths are downy. They fly 

 only at night. The family includes different genera, but we 

 can only name the American Tiger-Moth, A. virgo, of a pink 

 red color, with two central, triangular spots, and other markings ; 

 and the GREAT-TIGER MOTH, A caja, (see Chart.) an English 

 insect, but one that is represented in the A. Americana, which it 

 closely resembles. The latter has the base of the fore wings 

 marked with white branching spots, which partly resemble a 

 cross ; the wing beyond the middle is also marked with a white 

 irregular cross, something like an X. 



