Genus Argynnis 



at the base of both wings being broad and running into one an- 

 other, so that the inner half of the wings appears to be broadly 

 brownish-black. On the under side this sex is marked as the 

 male, but with the dark portions blacker and the lighter portions 

 pale yellow. Expanse, 2.50-3.25 inches. 



The life-history of this insect remains to be worked out. It is 

 one of our most beautiful species, and occurs in California and 

 Oregon. 



(6) Argynnis cybele, Fabricius, Plate IX, Fig. 3, $ ; Fig. 4, 

 $ ; Plate XIII, Fig. 1, $, under side; Plate V, Figs. 1-3, chrys- 

 alis (The Great Spangled Fritillary). 



Butterfly. — The male is much like the male of A. leto, but the 

 dark markings of the upper surface are heavier, and the under 

 sides of the hind wings are more heavily silvered. The yellow- 

 ish-buff submarginal band on the under side of the hind wings is 

 never obliterated by being invaded by the darker ferruginous of 

 the marginal and discal tracts of the wing. The female has the 

 ground-color of the wings paler than the male, and both wings 

 from the base to the angled median band on the upper side are 

 dark chocolate-brown. All the markings of the upper side in 

 this sex are heavier than in the male. On the under side the fe- 

 male is like the male. Expanse, 3.00-4.00 inches. 



Egg.- — Short, conoidal, ribbed like those of other species, and 

 honey-yellow. 



Caterpillar. — The larva in the mature state is black. The head 

 is blackish, shaded with chestnut behind. The body is orna- 

 mented with six rows of shining black branching spines, gen- 

 erally marked with orange-red at their base. The caterpillar, 

 which is nocturnal, feeds on violets, hibernating immediately 

 after being hatched from the egg, and feeding to maturity in the 

 following spring. 



Chrysalis. — The chrysalis is dark brown, mottled with reddish- 

 brown or slaty-gray. 



This species, which ranges over the Atlantic States and the 

 valley of the Mississippi as far as the plains of Nebraska, appears 

 to be single-brooded in the North and double-brooded in Vir- 

 ginia, the Carolinas, and the Western States having the same 

 geographical latitude. A small variety of this species, called A. 

 carpenteri by Mr. W. H. Edwards, is found in New Mexico 

 upon the top of Taos Peak, and is believed to be isolated here in 



1 06 



