BUTTERFLIES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 



especially in color and markings on the upper side ; but the under side 

 of the hind wings is very different, being provided with silvery white 

 bands and crescent-shaped spots, which are absent in P. tharos. It 

 is also larger than that species. It is somewhat rare in this vicinity. 

 It is on the wing in June and July. The caterpillar lives on different 

 kinds of asters and sunflowers. 



26. Black Checker Butterfly (Melitaa phaeton). 



This pretty black species, with yellow and brick-red spots, is 

 single-brooded, and is not rare in this vicinity, but is local in swampy 

 places. It is found on the wing about the middle of June. In flight 

 the butterfly is slow and sluggish. It alights on leaves, shrubs and 

 grasses and on the ground. The eggs are laid in masses. The young 

 caterpillars spin a web, in which they live until the following spring; 

 after the caterpillars become older they leave the web and live singly 

 on the leaves. Their food is turtle head (Chelone glabra), woodbine 

 (Lonicera), Gerardia etc. 



27. Harris's Butterfly (Melitcea harrisii). 



Very rare in this neighborhood. On the upper surface it looks 

 very much like Phyciodes nycteis, but the under surface is quite differ- 

 ent. It is on the wing from about the middle of June until August. 

 The caterpillar feeds on the aster. 



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