258 LEPIDOPTERA. 



sixteen days ; the butterfly appears from June 20th to Aug. 

 1st. The larva (Fig. 187, with the chrysalis, after Mr. TV. H. 

 Edwards) closely resembles that of Melitcea Phaeton, but, 

 says Mr. Scudder in a letter, it is 

 smaller, and the orange color pre- 

 dominates over the black. Like that 

 of M. Phaeton the caterpillar lives in 

 swarms on its food plant, covering 

 the whole summit of the plant with a 

 web, which at all times is foul with 

 excrement, and presents a most un- 

 sightly appearance. The chrysalis, he also states, may be best 

 described by saying that it is a miniature copy of that of 

 Phaeton. 



M. Chakedon Doubleday is found in California and the 

 Rocky Mountains, while M. Anicia Doubleday, the under side 

 of which is much like that of Chalcedon, occurs not only in 

 California and the Rocky Mountains but also in Kansas. M. 

 Texana Edwards is a Texan species expanding one and one- 

 half inches. 



In Vanessa the wings are notched and angulated or tailed on 

 the hind edges, while the palpi are long and beak-like. The 

 larva is cylindrical and stoutly spined, the spines being long 

 and branched. The caterpillars are gregarious during the early 

 stages. "The head of the chrysalis is deeply notched, or fur- 

 nished with two ear-like prominences ; the sides are very angu- 

 lar ; in the middle of the thorax there is a thin projection, in 

 profile, somewhat like a Roman nose, and on the back are two 

 rows of very sharp tubercles of a golden color." (Harris.) 

 Vanessa Antiopa Linn, is one of our most abundant butterflies, 

 being much more common in this country than in Europe, 

 whither it has probably been carried. Its wings are purplish 

 brown above, with a broad buff yellow border in which is a row 

 of pale blue spots. The butterfly hibernates, appearing before 

 the snow is off the ground. It is seen until June, and then 

 not until the middle of August. The larva is black, spotted 

 minutely with white, with a row of eight dark, brick-red spots 

 on the back. The chrysalis is dark brown, with large tawny 

 spots around the tubercles on the back. The caterpillar defoli- 



