acker] STUDY OF MOTHS AXD BUTTERFLIES 343 



of China. It is one of our most beautiful moths. The wings are 

 brown in color, just dusted with yellow. The tips of the forewings 

 have a beautiful lavender color. In the centre of each wing 

 there is a translucent crescent spot. 



The Samia Cecropia is the largest of the silkworm moths in this 

 part of the country. A number of cocoons gathered during the 

 first year of my search for them produced most beautiful insects — 

 the largest having a wing expanse of six and one-half inches. 



I have spent much time looking around honeysuckle vines for a 

 day-flying moth, the Eight-spotted Forester (Alypiaoctomaculata). 

 For a long time I was not successful. The first one I ever saw 

 was sent to me by a friend who captured it on a grapevine. The 

 little brown banded caterpillars that are such a pest to honey- 

 suckle and grapevines are the larva of this very beautiful little 

 black velvety moth, which has a spot of lemon on each wing. 



The first Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus tityrus) I ever 

 saw was brought to me by my daughter's playmate, Anna M. 

 Her mother found it on a rose bush in her yard and caught it in 

 her hand. Anna brought it to me on a saucer covered with a 

 tumbler. Her happiness was contagious. Why not ? Dr. Scud- 

 der tells us that it is the only American insect that attracted the 

 special notice of Agassiz. Its movements are very active and I 

 marvel that it could be captured without a net. It has dark 

 brown wings, the forewings being marked irregularly with yellow 

 bands across the middle. The under wings have an irregularly 

 shaped marking of a large silvery white spot. 



There is a great incentive to hunt for butterflies for they are 

 found wherever plant life is suited to the nourishment of the 

 caterpillars. Some are found on tops of high mountains where 

 an Arctic climate prevails. The number of species of butterflies 

 and the number of species of birds are very nearly the same. 

 Nature lovers find beauty, inspiration and health in the big out- 

 of-doors. What can offer more real pleasure than a day out-of- 

 doors, drinking in the beauties of nature and filling the lungs 

 with pure, fresh air? But one soon tires if there is not some object 

 in view, something to hold the thoughts, something to pursue. 

 The entomologist on his out-door trips always finds much to 

 attract his attention and inspiration to go on, and best of all a 

 reward for his industry. 



