THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 101 



segment; anterior edge of second segment, immediately behind tte head, 

 ringed with black. Body thickest in the middle, much smaller at second and 

 third segments. 



Under surface slightly darker than upper ; feet and prolegs of the same 

 hue. This larva I failed to rear. 



Several years since I found on the wild columbine (^Aquilegia Canadensis) 

 a somewhat similar larva belonging to a distinct but allied species. I found 

 several of them on the same plant. They had drawn the leaves together and 

 fastened them with silken threads, forming a rude case, in which they secret- 

 ed when not feeding. An unfortunate accident destroyed them after they 

 had changed to pupae, along with the description I had made of them, and I 

 have not met with a similar specimen since, — possibly they may have been 

 the larvae of Persius. 



Note bï Ed. Can. Eut. — For various reasons — especially that Mr. Saunders' obser- 

 vations on the larvœ of Butterflies might be in the hands of entomologists as early in 

 the season as possible — we have devoted the whole of this number to the conclusion of 

 his valuable Notes, and have been consequently obliged to defer other matter till next 

 month. 



THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW ENQLAND. 



The notice in our last number of Mr. Scudder's promised work on New 

 England Butterflies, has already brought many welcome responses. A num- 

 ber of living butterflies have been sent in cotton wool, and although a day 

 upon their journey, were received alive and in good condition: those wWo 

 live near Boston might try this method, but we think that most persons would 

 be interested in raising the larvée themselves. In attempting to obtain eggs 

 for this purpose, it is better not to select the freshest butterflies, as their eggs 

 will often prove undeveloped, or at least unimpregnated. It should also be 

 remembered that the males usually appear about a week before the females, 

 and experiments would therefore be more likely to succeed if made about a 

 fortnight after the species is first observed. 



In answer to repeated enquiries, we will state that the males of butterflies 

 may, in general, be distinguished from the females by a series of clasping 

 hooks which protrude from the orifice at the tip of the abdomen : frequently 

 these are effectually concealed by long scales. In a number of families the 

 sexes can be determined by the partially undeveloped condition of the front 

 legs of the male : collectors also know many species by their colors. 



The proposed volume will include a history and description of the parasites 

 of butterflies. Dr. Packard has kindly promised his assistance in describing 

 these parasites, and examples of every kind, and in large numbers, are desired. 

 They should be accompanied by specimens of the species infested, and, if 



