182 



ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY 



FIG. 280. 



Hunter's butterfly (Pyrameis huntera 

 Fab.), male 



(After Fiske) 



among dead leaves, as they frequently do when pursued in 



woodland, the underwings so closely resemble the leaves as to 



make them quite indis- 

 tinguishable. A bright, 

 silvery comma is seen 

 on the underside of 

 each hind-wing, which 

 gives the specific name. 

 The larvae are red- 

 dish or yellowish, with 

 black head and black- 

 branched spines ; they 

 feed on elm and net- 

 tles, though they are 

 better known as pests 

 of the hop-vine. 

 The dull, grayish-brown butterflies, with numerous eyespots on 



the borders of their wings, which flit through our woodlands 



like changing shadows, are known 



as meadow-browns, or satyrs, and 



also belong to this large family. 



The larvae of the more common 



species feed on grass, and may be 



recognized by the caudal segment 



being bifurcated. 



The fritillaries, or argynnids, are 



another group of common butter- 

 flies included in this family. They 



are usually of medium size, of a 



golden-brown color, marked with 



rows of black spots above and with 



bright, silvery spots on the under- 



surface. There are several species 



which are very difficult to distin- 

 guish, and whose caterpillars feed 



on Violets. One of the Smaller FlG 2gl Hunter's butterfly at rest, 

 Species, Very similar to the larger showing underwing and chrysalis 

 forms, is illustrated , in Fig. 276. (Photograph by Weed) 



