4 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 
PAPER NO. I. 
BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONTARIO. 
This paper is the first of a series in which it is proposed, by members 
of the editorial staff alternately, to describe some of our more common 
insects, to illustrate them with suitable cuts, and to make the descriptions 
of so plain a character that the most unscientific reader may be able 
readily to comprehend their meaning. Since it is one of our aims in 
publishing the ENTOMOLOGIST to popularize our favorite science, we shall 
offer no apology for introducing into our journal these readable papers, 
in which much material may from time to time appear, which, to the 
scientific reader, may look stale and uninviting. : In a recent letter from 
a correspondent who takes some interest in “bugs,” but is not deeply 
versed in the technichalities of the science, he complains much of the 
depth of the learning which has been displayed in our pages during the 
past, and says that although he has frequently taken a plunge into the 
‘depths of the articles, one after another, that he has rarely been able to 
touch bottom. It will be our aim, then, while still devoting the larger 
portion of our pages to scientific matter, to introduce something into each 
future number in which subscribers of similar scientific calibre to the 
gentleman already referred to, may be able, not only to touch bottom, but 
to wander through the shallows with ease, and we hope with some degree 
of pleasure. 
The first insect of which we propose to treat is one of our commonest 
butterflies, known as the archippus butterfly (Danais archippus). ‘This — 
insect is said to hybernate during the winter; it is seen on the wing 
usually as early as the middle of May, butitis not very common until later 
in the season. These first few individuals lay their eggs on the leaves of the 
common milkweed (Asclepias cornuti) and other species of Asc/epias, also 
on the bitter root (Apocynum androsemifolium ), during the latter part of 
May or the beginning of June. The eggs, when fresh laid, are white, but 
in two or three days they become yellow and then dull gray just before 
the time of hatching. They are “sth of an inch long, conical in form, 
