BUTTERFLIES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 
28. Violet-Tip (Polygonia interrogationts). 
Found in glades, gardens and roadsides in the vicinity of woods. 
It is very fond of sucking the sap which flows from wounded trees, 
especially maples and oaks, and is attracted by juices of decaying 
fruits. When at rest on the trunk of a tree, it is very difficult to de- 
tect, owing to the brown color of the under side of the wings, which 
closely resembles that of the bark of the tree or of a withered leaf. 
It is rather common during warm weather, but difficult to capture. 
In this vicinity there are three broods, the last one hibernating in the 
butterfly state. This butterfly has two forms; the hibernating one 
being known as form fabricit and the other as umbrosa. Fabricit has 
the upper sides of all the wings orange- brown, with pale and black 
spots. The form umbrosa has the hind wings very dark brown with 
the markings obliterated. The caterpillar lives on elm, hackberry 
(Celtis), hop and nettle. 
29. Hop Merchant or Comma Butterfly (Polygonia comma), 
A very wary insect with a quick, nervous flight, yet at the same 
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