PL. XLIII 



GENUS BASILARCH1A SCUDDEB 

 (THE WHITE ADMIRALS). 



Rather large butterflies. Fore wings subtriangular, rounded 

 at the apex, and lightly excavated on the lower two thirds of 

 the outer margin. Hind wings rounded, somewhat crenulate. 

 Egg nearly spherical (see Plate C, Fig. /) pitted with large 

 hexagonal cells. The caterpillar in its mature state cylindrical, 

 with the second segment adorned with two prominent club- 

 shaped tubercles, and the fifth, ninth, and tenth segments also 

 having raised tubercles (see Plate C, Fig. h). They feed upon 

 oaks, birches, willows, and lindens, preferably the two latter. 

 The caterpillars after hatching hibernate in little winter quar- 

 ters, which they make out of the fragment of a small leaf, 

 which they tie together with silken threads, and also secure 

 to the twig by a few strands. The chrysalis has a projecting 

 boss on the back; the head is either rounded or slightly bifid. 



There are a number of species in the United States, several 

 of which mimic other butterflies in a singular manner, B. 

 disippus closely resembling Anosia plexippus. The caterpil- 

 lars do not pupate until summer has come; the butterflies take 

 wing when the lindens bloom. * . * . . .- * 



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