184 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
extending in a band, widening as it crosses the lower wing from the 
base to the lower margin, where it occupies nearly the whole width 
of the wing. A row of black spots extends along the lower margin 
of the lower wings, partly enclosed on their inner sides with orange- 
colored half-moon spots, which fade out as they approach the upper 
margin. A narrow black line extends along the outer margin of the 
upper wings and is continued along the lower margin of the lower 
pair. Both sets of wings are fringed with gray scales. The body is 
black. 
These little butterflies are slow flyers, keeping not far above the 
ground, and are usually most abundant on the outskirts of woods. 
They love to congregate about damp places on the ground to sip the 
moisture. With care one may approach closely and even take them 
by hand. The coloring of the male when freshly hatched is very 
pleasing and is almost the exact tint of the horseshoe violet which 
blooms at the time when this butterfly is most numerous, the flowers 
and insects being often found near one another. There are two or 
more broods of these butterflies in a season. The larva is usually 
light green with brown markings, but pinkish or chocolate-brown 
specimens sometimes occur. It feeds on the buds and flowers of 
several plants, dogwood and rattle-weed being favorites. The chrys¬ 
alis is brown with two rows of brown dots down the back of the 
abdomen. 
Lycseua comyntas. Male. 
One other common species of this genus is Lyccena comyvitas. 
The male is dark violet, the upper wings with a narrow band of 
blackish-brown along their outer margin, the upper and lower margin 
of the lower wings being the same color. The lower wing has a 
black thread-like tail with a white tip. This will readily distinguish 
it from the preceding tailless species regardless of the varieties it may 
assume. Along the lower margin of the lower wing is a row of black 
