Genus Terias 



ing which it divided into two parts, one of which went eastward, 

 and the other westward, gradually falling upon the land. They 

 were not long in ascertaining that what they had taken for a cloud 

 was an immense concourse of small yellow butterflies (Terias 

 lisa, Boisduval), which flitted about all the open grassy patches 

 and cultivated grounds in a lazy manner, as if fatigued after their 

 long voyage over the deep. Fishermen out near the reefs, some 

 few miles to the north of the island, very early that morning, 

 stated that numbers of these insects fell upon their boats, literally 

 covering them. They did not stay long upon the islands, how- 

 ever, only a few days, but during that time thousands must have 

 fallen victims to the vigorous appetite of the bluebird (Sialia sia- 

 lis, Baird) and blackbird (Mimus carolinensis, Gray), which were 

 continually preying upon them." 



As the nearest point of land is Cape Hatteras, about six hun- 

 dred miles distant, it is seen that, weak and feeble as this little 

 creature appears, it must possess, when aided by favoring winds, 

 great power of sustained flight. 



(8) Terias elathea, Cramer, Plate XXXVII, Fig. 12, $ (Elathea). 

 Butterfly. Distinguished from its near ally, T. delta, by the 



fact that the ground-color of the hind wings is white. The fe- 

 male in this, as in the allied species, is without the black bar on 

 the inner margin of the primaries. Expanse, 1.25-1.40 inch. 



Early Stages. Unknown. 



Elathea is found in Florida, Mexico, and the Antilles. 



(9) Terias delia, Cramer, Plate XXXVII, Fig. 14, $ (Delia). 



Butterfly. Almost exactly like the preceding species, but hav- 

 ing the upper side of the hind wings yellow. On the under side 

 the fore wing at the tip and the entire hind wing are red. Ex- 

 panse, 1.25-1.50 inch. 



Early Stages. But little is known of them. The caterpillar 

 feeds on Cassia. 



Delia occurs commonly in the Gulf States. 



(10) Terias jucunda, Boisduval and Leconte, Plate XXXVII, 

 Fig. 15, $ ; Fig. 16, $ , under side (The Fairy Yellow). 



Butterfly. Distinguished from the preceding species by the 

 dark marginal band surrounding the hind wing and the pale under 

 surface. Expanse, 1.60-1.75 inch. 



Early Stages. Unknown. 



This little species is found in the Gulf States. 



298 



