130 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 Urdézcacee, 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 
