37o 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



taining a sort of silky down. This is supposed to be a 

 scent-organ. When this pocket is tightly closed it is diffi- 

 cult to see it. 



Nearly seventy species belonging to this subfamily have 

 been found in America north of Mexico. The following 

 are some of the more common of these: — 



The Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreus tityrus (Ep-ar- 

 gy're-us tit'y-rus). — This skipper is represented on our 

 colored plate (Plate I, Fig. 4). It is dark chocolate-brown, 

 with a row of yellowish spots extending across the fore 

 wing and with a large silvery-white spot on the lower side 

 of the hind wing. It is found in nearly the whole United 

 States, from Massachusetts to California, except in the 

 extreme Northeast and Northwest. The larva (Fig. 450) 

 feeds upon various papilionaceous plants. We have found 

 it common on locust. It makes a nest, within which it re- 

 mains concealed, by fastening together, with silk, the leaf- 

 lets of a compound leaf (Fig. 452). 



Fig. 452. — Nest of larva of Epargyreus tityrus. 



The Long-tailed Skipper, Eudamus proteus (Eu'da-mus 

 pro'te-us). — This Skipper by the shape of it^ wings reminds 

 one of a swallow-tail butterfly, the hind wings being furnished 

 with long tails. It expands about one and three fourths 

 inches; and the greatest length of the hind wings is about 

 one and one fourth inches. The wings are very dark choc- 

 olate-brown ; the front wings contain several silvery-white 

 spots ; and the body and base of the wings bear metallic- 



