LEPIDOPTERA. 
373 
discal patch, which usually appears to the naked eye like 
a scorched, oblique streak near the center of each fore 
wing (Fig. 454 )* This patch is a complicated organ, com¬ 
posed of tubular scales that are outlets of scent-glands 
and other scales of various shapes. The females can be 
recognized by their resemblance in other respects to the 
males. In some species the discal patch is wanting in the 
males also. 
This subfamily is an exceedingly difficult one to study. 
More than one hundred species have been described from 
America north of Mexico; and in many cases the differences 
between allied species are not well marked. The following 
two are named merely as examples, The first is easily 
recognized. But it is not worth while for the beginning 
student to attempt to distinguish other members of this 
subfamily. 
The Least Skipper, Ancyloxipha nurnitor (An-cy-lox'i-pha 
nu'mi-tor).—This skipper is the smallest of our common 
species, and is also remarkable for lacking the recurved 
hook at the tip of the antennas. The wings are tawny, 
broadly margined with dark brown. In some specimens 
the fore wings are almost entirely brown. The larger in¬ 
dividuals expand about one inch. The larva feeds upon 
grass in damp places. 
The Black Dash, Limochores pontiac (Li-moch'o-res 
pon'ti-ac).—The male of this species is represented by 
Figure 454. It is blackish brown, with considerable yellow 
on the basal half of the fore wings. The discal patch is 
velvety black. This species is distributed from Massachu¬ 
setts to Nebraska. 
Superfamily PAPILIONINA (Pa-pil-i-o-ni'na). 
The Butterflies . 
The butterflies differ from moths in that they have 
clubbed antennae, fly only in the daytime, and hold the 
