4 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



Grapta progne Cramer. As with the other members of the 

 genus, hibernated examples appear in March and April and fresh 

 specimens in midsummer. While sitting in the sun near Rich- 

 mond village on February 24, 1906, I noticed a Grapta butterfly 

 settle on an oak leaf lying on the ground, intent also upon warm- 

 ing itself in the sun. I tried to draw near in order to identify 

 the species positively, but even with my glass I was not sure, 

 although I thought it was progne. The butterfly was very much 

 afraid of me while it was on the ground. When it flew off I 

 noticed that it lit on the fallen branches of a tree about a yard 

 from the ground and that it had closed its wings. It then 

 allowed me to approach, and I saw plainly that it was progne. I 

 reached out my hand and picked it ofif from the branch. It did 

 not struggle, but folded up its legs and kept quiet. So it re- 

 mained lying fiat in my open hand, and I carried it to a sunny 

 place and put it on an oak leaf, where it lay as if dead. After a 

 while it began to tremble, and presently it jumped up and before 

 one could say " Grapta progne " had flown away. 



Grapta j-album Boisduval & Leconte. Hibernated individuals 

 in early spring and fresh examples in midsummer. About one- 

 half of the specimens taken on the island have been found in 

 dwellings, usuahy in the fall. It is more apt to enter houses than 

 any other of our native butterflies, not even excepting Vanessa 

 antiopa. 



Vanessa antiopa Linnaeus. Sometimes seen as early as the 

 latter part of February and as late as November. The red seed 

 clusters of the sumac are sometimes in the spring attractive perch- 

 ing places for individuals that have awakened from their hiberna- 

 tion. 



Vanessa milberti Godart. One specimen taken near Silver 

 Lake by Mr. Gustav Beyer in October, 1886. Seen at Clifton by 

 Mr. Oscar Fulda on October 13, 1902, and on September 25, 1910. 



Pyrameis atalanta Linnaeus. March to November inclusive. 

 One seen December 13, 1891. 



Pyrameis huntera Fabricius. Early spring to November in- 

 clusive. 



