THE MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES 



423 



matter of fact, of very 

 minor importance as a fac- 

 tor when compared with 

 the structural character of 

 these insects. This is to 

 some extent paralleled by 

 what we find in birds that 

 is to say, in the differen- 

 tiation of species and sub- 

 species, color of plumage 

 and color-areas of plumage 

 constitute the chief charac- 

 ters by means of which we 

 draw such lines. Geo- 

 graphical distribution is 

 also of great importance in 

 such matters, and to a far 

 lesser extent this latter aid 

 may be considered in the 

 case of moths and butter- 

 flies. When we come to decide to which group any 

 particular bird belongs its external characters being of 

 a puzzling nature we resort to a more or less thorough 

 study of its structure or anatomy, or, as modern biologists 

 have it, its morphology. 



So it is with puzzling discoveries in the moth and 

 butterfly assemblages. With respect to the vast num- 

 bers of new forms of them being almost daily taken 

 by entomologists in different parts of the world, cor- 

 r e c t diagnoses 

 can often be 

 made off-hand ; 

 while in other 

 instances abund- 

 ant material of 

 acorn parative 

 sort must be at 

 hand and em- 

 ployed, in that 

 the exact posi- 

 tion in the sys- 

 tem of some of 

 these forms may 

 b e determined. 

 Specimens have 

 already come 

 into the posses- 

 sion of science 

 wherein doubts 

 were entertained 

 for some little 

 time as to 

 whether the in- 

 sect, in any par- 

 ticular case, was 

 really a moth or 

 a butterfly. 



This will ac- 

 count for the 



MALE OF THE PROMETHEA MOTH VIEWED FROM ABOVE 



Figure 7. This figure, from the collection of Mr. Wm. Schaus, should 

 be compared with Figure 2 of this article, when the striking difference 

 in the males and females of this species will at once be appreciated. 



THE CATERPILLAR OF THE PROMETHEA 

 MOTH f 



Figure 8. This larva, here seen upon left lateral 

 view, is of a light green color and very brilliant. 

 The four anterior tubercles are of a bright coral- 

 red color; the two posterior ones are of a pale 

 yellow. 



fact that both moths and 

 butterflies have, in the case 

 of many species, been 

 anatomically studied with 

 great minuteness. Such 

 studies and investigations 

 should interest every intel- 

 ligent forester in this coun- 

 try; and should he be so 

 placed that he cannot well 

 enter such fields of re- 

 search, he ought to do all 

 in his power to encourage 

 it in others and assist to 

 the utmost whenever he 

 can. 



In passing through tim- 

 bered aneas, the forester 

 will often note leaf de- 

 struction in the case of 

 certain trees. Frequently it requires but a few moments' 

 search to discover the cause of it ; and should it prove to 

 be due to the ravages of a band of caterpillars, examples 



of these should 

 be at once col- 

 lected and 

 brought to the 

 attention of 

 some competent 

 e n t o m o logist, 

 who will make 

 the proper use 

 of such informa- 

 tion when it 

 comes into his 

 possession. 

 Damage and de- 

 struction has of- 

 ten been "nipped 

 in the bud" in 

 our forests 

 through prompt 

 action in such 

 cases that is, 

 where a non- 

 expert has made 

 the initial re- 

 port. 



Figure 9. For the above purpose, it rolled one of O O IT] e t lmeS, 



the leaves of the wild cherry, upon which it was vyfipti hjc time 

 feeding at the time of its capture. 



and surround- 

 ing admit of it, the forester or the cultivator of trees 

 may do good work along the above indicated lines, which, 

 if intelligently carried out, may lead to the securing of 

 very valuable information. At times it may confirm the 

 labors of others; then, again, should the investigator be 

 more or less familiar with the literature on our moths 

 and butterflies ; should he possess the means to purchase 

 the simple appliances for laboratory work, and have the 



SAME LARVA IN THE FIRST STAGES OF 

 MAKING ITS COCOON 



