NYMPHALIDiE. 
265 
had bleached them. The insect is said to hibernate in the chrysalis 
state also, but I have never been able to find the chrysalides in 
winter. 
The first bro.od usually hatches in July, while the second begins 
to come out in September, and specimens may be seen from then on 
till it is too cold for them to fly. They are very partial to decaying 
sweet apples or pears, and when contentedly sucking the half fer¬ 
mented cider are easily approached and captured. Rum and mo¬ 
lasses, the same bait used for moths, is attractive to this insect, 
and one may sometimes see several of these butterflies at a time 
about the bait, especially if there are no strong smelling flowers or 
decayed fruits near. An over-ripe banana split in halves is an 
excellent bait for this and several other allied butterflies. 
The coloring of the under side of the wings is protective, and 
when the insect has alighted on an old rail or the trunk of a tree 
with its wings closely pressed together it is a difficult object to see. 
Its flight is strong and rapid, and although so bright an object while 
on the wing it is abundantly able to take care of itself. Mr. Harris, 
in his “Insects Injurious to Vegetation,” gives a very well written 
account of the habits of this insect in its larva state, which I have 
thought best to insert here. He says: “ The atalanta butterfly was 
probably introduced into America from Europe with the common 
nettle, which it inhabits. It deposits its eggs in May upon the 
youngest and smallest leaves of this plant, being cautious to drop 
only one upon a single leaf. The young caterpillar is guarded 
against injury from the poison prickles of the leaf by the numerous 
branching spines with which it is covered, and which, being longer 
than the prickles, prevent its body from coming in contact with the 
latter. The head is covered with a tough shell, which sufficiently 
protects this part, while its strong and horny jaws are adapted for 
cutting and chewing the leaves and their prickles with impunity. 
