300 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
ably an early brood of caterpillars in June or July, but I 
have not seen any on the hop-vine before August; the former 
are therefore confined to the elm and other plants, in all 
probability. The caterpillar is brownish, variegated with pale 
yellow, or pale yellow A^ariegated Avith broAvn, Avith a yel¬ 
lowish line on each side of the bodv; the head is rust-red» 
Avith two blackish branched spines on the top; and the spines 
of the body are pale yelloAV or brownish and tipped Avith 
black. The chrysalis is ashen broAvn, Avith the head deeply 
notched, and surmounted by two conical ears, a long and thin 
nose-like prominence on the thorax, and eight silvery spots 
on the back. The chrysalis state usually lasts from eleven to 
fourteen days ; but the later broods are more tardy in their 
transformations, the butterfly sometimes not appearing in 
less than twenty-six days after the change to the chrysalis. 
Great numbers of the chrysalids are annually destroyed by 
little maggots Avithin them, Avhich, in due time, are trans¬ 
formed to tiny four-Avinged flies QPteromalus Vanessce)^ 
Avhich make their escape by eating little holes through the 
sides of the chrysalis. They are ever on the watch to lay 
their eggs on the caterpillars of this butterfly, and are so 
small as easily to avoid being Avounded by the branching 
spines of their vdctims. 
Vanessa Comma. Comma Butterfly.(Plate lY. Fig. 1.) 
Upper siae tawniy orange; fore Avings bordered behind 
and spotted Avith black; hind Avings shaded behind Avith dark 
broAvn, with two black spots on the middle, and three more 
in a transverse line from the front edo:e, and a roAV of bnVht 
orange-colored spots before the hind margin; hind edges of 
the Avings poAvdered Avltli reddish Avhite; under side marbled 
Avith light and dark broAvn, the hinder Avings with a silvery 
comma in the middle. 
Expands from 24 to 2| inches. 
This butterfly very closely resembles the white C (G 
. f 10 V. Comma belongs to the genus Grapta Kirby. — Morris.] 
