190 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
and the other in August. This insect ranges from New England, 
where it is rare, through the middle and western states to the 
Rocky Mountains. 
The habitat of a certain insect is sometimes so restricted and its 
favorite haunts so few and far between that one may dwell within no 
great distance of it for a long time without knowing of its existence. 
Many of the tiny creatures such as we are considering are shy and 
retiring, shunning man and his habitations and never intruding them¬ 
selves upon his notice. A good many of the butterflies belonging to 
this great family of Lyccenidce have to be carefully and diligently 
searched for, and a collection containing a large number of our native 
species carefully collected and neatly mounted represents a good deal 
of painstaking labor both in the field and in one’s home. Our next 
example, Chrysophanus epixanthe , is such a little creature, its colors 
blend so readily with its surroundings and its habitat is so restricted 
that it has been considered by some collectors a rare insect. It de¬ 
lights in low swampy districts where grasses, cranberry vines and 
low bushes cover the ground, and in a swamp perhaps many acres in 
extent, one part apparently like another, it may be confined to a few 
square rods of grassy and bushy water-soaked land. Such a locality 
I know not far from my home, where, early in July, one may go with 
Eeniseca tarquinius. 
the prospect of finding this little butterfly moderately abundant. It 
is difficult to see when at rest on a grass stem as the color of the 
under side of the wings, which are usually closed, is about the same 
as that of the yellow, dried stems and leaves of the previous season’s 
growth. The butterfly is not sh} r and its flight is slow and weak. 
When disturbed it rises but a few inches above the grasses and flying 
a few feet alights. When freshly hatched from the chrysalis the rich 
irridescent brownish-purple of the upper side of the wings makes it a 
