198 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
band is edged externally with a very narrow line of black, and out¬ 
side this is another line of white. A line of faint dark spots fading 
out toward the upper margin may be traced between the strongly 
colored orange band and the margin, and a single elongated spot 
is located above the centre of the wing. On the lower wings the 
band of reddish orange spots, similar to the one on the upper 
wings, extends in a zigzag manner across the wing. Between the 
base of the tails is a large black spot with an orange crescent above 
it. A small black spot with two vague white spots above it is 
located at the inner angle, and between this and the large one is 
a blue gray spot. A fine black line extends along the lower 
margin with a delicate white line above it. There is also a line 
of faint dark crescents, the lower one having an orange line exter¬ 
nally, extending from the large black spot to the upper angle of 
the lower wing. The thorax and legs are gray, the abdomen 
whitish. 
In Florida and the Gulf states, this butterfly is generally not 
rare in February and March, and may be taken in the same localities 
inhabited by Theda halesus. It is not wild and may be captured in 
the hands if caution is exercised. When frightened, however, it can 
fly rapidly, but after circling about for a few moments soon alights, 
often returning to the spot which it occupied before it was disturbed. 
Tliecla calanus. 
Probably our most common species of this genus is Theda 
calanus , and although I have never seen it in any such numbers as 
one may often see species of our commoner butterflies, still in 
favored localities it is sometimes abundant. The upper side of 
the wings is dark blackish brown, the male having the usual oval 
disc near the upper margin. There is one moderately long tail 
and an exceedingly fine and short one. Both are black and tipped 
with white. Near the base of the tails, and extending to the inner 
