FIG. 



Neuration of the 

 genus Atrytone, 

 enlarged. 



Genus Atrytone 



Egg. The egg is hemispherical, somewhat broadly flattened 

 at the apex, covered with small cells, the inner surface of which 

 is marked with minute punctulations. 



Caterpillar. The caterpillar feeds upon com- 

 mon grasses, making a loose nest of silk for 

 itself at the point where the leaf joins the stem. 

 The head is small; the body is cylindrical, thick, 

 tapering abruptly at either end. 



Chrysalis. Covered with delicate hair; the 

 tongue-case free. 



(i) Atrytone vitellius, Smith and Abbot, Plate 

 XLV1, Fig. 6, $ (The Iowa Skipper). 



Butterfly. The male on the upper side is as 

 shown in the plate. The female on the upper side 

 has the hind wings almost entirely fuscous, very 

 slightly yellowish about the middle of the disk. The fore wings 

 have the inner and outer margins more broadly bordered with fus- 

 cous than the male, and through the middle of the cell there runs 

 a dark ray. On the under side the wings are bright pale yellow, 

 with the inner margin of the primaries clouded with brown. Ex- 

 panse, $ , 1.25 inch; $,1.45 inch. 



Early Stages. Very little is known of these. 

 The species ranges through the Gulf States, and northward in 

 the valley of the Mississippi as far as Nebraska and Iowa. It 

 seems to be quite common in Nebraska, and probably has a wider 

 distribution than is reported. 



(2) Atrytone zabulon, Boisduval and Leconte, Plate XLVII, 

 Fig- 37> & 5 Fig- 38, ? (The Hobomok Skipper). 



Butterfly. The upper side of both sexes is shown in the plate. 

 The color on the disk of the wings is, however, a little too red. 

 On the under side the wings are bright yellow, with the bases and 

 the outer margin bordered with dark brown. Expanse, $ , 1.25 

 inch; $ , i ,50 inch. 



Early Stages. The caterpillar feeds upon grasses. The life^ 

 history has been described with minute accuracy by Dr. Scudder. 

 The species ranges from New England to Georgia, and west- 

 ward to the Great Plains. It is very common in Pennsylvania, 

 Virginia, and the valley of the Ohio. 



Dimorphic var. pocahontas, Scudder, Plate XLVII, Fig. 39, $ . 

 This is a melanic, or black, female variety of ^abulon, which is 



364 



