igof\ Sherman and Brimley — Insect Captures. 143 



preceding species it seems to be very active in flight. 



Thecla halesus, Cramer, (The Great Purple Hairstreak.) 

 This, which we regard as one of the most handsome of all 

 our species, is said by Holland to be "Very common in Central 

 America and Mexico; it is not scarce in the hot parts of the 

 Gulf States, and is even reported as having been captured in 

 southern Illinois, It also occurs in Arizona and southern 

 California." While it is thus assigned as typically a sub- 

 tropical species, we found it not at all rare at Lumberton on 

 September 6th, 1902. Three specimens, representing both 

 sexes, were captured, and one or two others were observed. 

 This is one of the largest species of the genus, and, unlike 

 the others here discussed, it is rather easily taken. One of 

 my specimens was swung at with the net not less than four 

 times, yet made no long flights. It may be that it was only 

 common in the one locality and for a short time, but it seemed 

 to be quite at home. We regard this as a significant capture, 

 indicating that many sub-tropical forms may hereafter be 

 taken in our southeastern section. It is not on record from 

 Raleigh. 



Phyciodes nycteis, Doubleday & Hewitson, (Nycteis). The 

 Nycteis butterfly is recorded "from Maine to North Carolina 

 and thence westward to the foothills of the Rockies," and 

 seems to be found only in the western part of our State. Mr. 

 Brimley does not list it from Raleigh, and our one specimen 

 is from Blowing Rock, where it was taken in June, 1901. A 

 somewhat similar species, {Phyciodes tharos), is common in 

 all parts of the State. 



Grapta f annus, Edwards, (The Faun). Holland says that 

 /annus is "found from New England to the Carolinas, thence 

 westward to the Pacific." It is not recorded from Raleigh, 

 and seems to be very local in distribution and only found in 

 the higher colder localities. On August 30th, 1902, it was 

 found not uncommon along the turnpike road from Blowing 

 Rock to Linville. It was my good fortune to be accompanied 

 on that trip by a collector who had had considerable expe- 



