( 3* ) 



GENUS. I. BUTTERFLIES. 



SEC. III. ARGUS. 



Mod of the caterpillars are covered with a fine downlike hair : all have two 

 points projecting at the tail, and fix themfelves by the tail when ready for 

 transforming to the chryfalis. 



SEC. III. S P. XX. GREAT ARGUS. 

 PL 17. 

 Semele. Linnœus. 

 G rai ling. Harris. 



The caterpillar of this butterfly feeds on grafs, clofe to the roots of which it 

 lies concealed in the day time, and being of a pale green colour is not eafily 

 difcovered. It rarely ventures out to feed, except in the evening, for fear of 

 birds, which are always fearching for this kind of caterpillar. The butterflies 

 are out on the wing the end of June, or the beginning of July. They are not 

 generally diftributed, but are peculiar to dry paftures, and gravelly or chalky 

 fituations, except that they are fometimes found in dry woodlands. They are 

 eafily taken, as they are not active in flight, and frequently fettle on the ground. 

 The caterpillars arrive at their full growth the middle of June, at which time 

 they unite feveral blades of grafs together by a web, and fufpend themfelves by 

 the tail in the centre, fo that they hang an inch or two from the ground. In 

 a fhort time after the chryfalis is perfected ; and in about three weeks the fly is 

 ready to take the invitation of a fine morning, to iflue forth and fly abroad» 

 The male I have reprefented at fig. 3, the female, flying, at fig. 4, the under 

 parts at fig. 5, the caterpillar at fig 1, and the chryfalis at fig. 2. 



