148 
LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA, 
living cliiysalisj or to seize upon anotlier cater- 
pillar ; and I once reared one which ate young 
earth-worms with great relish. Had the caterpillar 
any patriotic intention of avenging the atrocities 
perpetrated occasionally by the Dragon-fly race 
upon the Lepidopterous tribes ? 
Two species of Butterfly have occurred to my 
notice since my last: the Variegated Fritillary 
[Argynnis Columbina) and the Coral Hairstreak 
[Theda Mopsus). The former is tesselated with 
orange, black, and yellow, which colours on the 
under surface (especially of the hind wings) are 
admirably varied with shades of soft rich brown. 
It is not deficient in beauty, though it wants the 
brilliant metallic spots common to many of its 
congeners. Two inches and a half is its usual 
extent ; I have seen a specimen which measured 
three inches and one-tenth, but it was one of un- 
usual size. It is as yet rare, and very difficult 
of approach. The Hairstreak is a little one ; the 
hind-wings are of rather an unusual shape, running 
off to a point : the colour is dull brown, unspotted 
above, beneath marked with a row of round spots 
of bright scarlet, like a string of beads. These 
are rather common. Of the butterflies which I 
have noticed before, the Green Clouded Swallow- 
tail [Papilio Troilus) and the Painted Beauty 
( Cynthia Huntera), are becoming quite common : 
the Blue Swallowtail [Pap, PMlenor) is becoming 
scarce, and the Zebra Swallowtails [P, Ajax) are 
nearly all gone. 
As one species goes out of season another comes 
in ; so that there is a constant succession : and the 
fields and prairies are still enlivened and adorned 
with these beautiful fairy creatures. 
