1^0 STARLIGHT AND SUNSHINE. 



between the stones. Suppose we now transfer them all, perhaps 

 a hundred or more specimens, to our box, and await the transfor- 

 mation from those pendent nymphs which soon will begem the 

 interior. After the lapse of a fortnight, upon opening the lid the 

 former sleepy hollow seems to have blossomed with painted wings. 

 Here shall we find our Comma by the dozens, and very likely, 

 too, counterparts of all the bright tribe which fluttered above the 

 vine upon the wall Semicolon and White J. A bright orange 

 butterfly is now seen sunning itself upon the young elm-tree near 

 by. We capture the insect with our net, and find it identical 

 with the Semicolon in our box, while examination of the elm 

 leaves reveals not only the suggestive empty chrysalis shell, but 

 several thorny caterpillars beneath those well-known tented leaves. 



If we care to continue our investigation among the herbage 

 we may discover these same caterpillars upon the little clear- 

 weed in the dank shade of the orchard, a succulent plant hardly 

 a foot high, the very opposite to a nettle in its glossy smoothness; 

 and also on the pellitory, a companion weed. Upon all of these 

 plants, in addition to the various nettles, I have found the insects, 

 and once on the hemp. I have also seen their deserted tents on 

 the paper-mulberry, an exotic tree, only sparingly cultivated, but a 

 careful search has failed to disclose the caterpillar on any other 

 plants. Entomologists say that they are also frequently found on 

 the Celtis, or sugar-berry tree. Here, then, we have the following 

 summary and completed list of plants upon which the eggs of the 

 butterfly have been laid: wood -nettle, great stinging nettle, and 

 all other nettles; false nettle, all the elms, clear- weed, pellitory, 

 hemp, paper-mulberry, and sugar-berry tree. What light does our 

 botany throw upon this list? Turning to "wood-nettle " we are 

 referred to Urticacea, or the " nettle family," wherein are disclosed 

 all of the above species of plants, which actually complete the list 

 of genera and nearly all the native species of the order. 



I am not informed whether this list is extended with the ad- 

 ditional species to be found in the remoter parts of our country, 

 but in the West and South I should confidently look for the cater- 

 pillar on the Osage orange, Planer-tree, and the fig, as it must 



