284 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
from a dozen, to a hundred in a small space of a few square rods. It 
is an easily captured species when once found as it is not shy; its 
flight is feeble and is not long sustained. It rarely comes into the 
upland fields or gardens. There is but one brood in a season, the 
butterfly making its appearance about the middle of June, and con¬ 
tinuing to fly for about a month. The female lays her eggs in a 
cluster on the snake head (Clielone glabra ), and when the caterpil¬ 
lars hatch they spin a web, drawing the leaves together at the top 
of the plant. In this web or nest they live and feed until cold 
weather, when they cease feeding, and remain in it in a dormant 
state throughout the winter. In the spring they again commence 
feeding, and when their growth is complete, they separate and seek 
a retreat in which to pupate. 
The larva is covered with stiff black bristles, and the chrysalis 
is gray with dark brown spots. 
Many grand butterflies belong to the genus Argynnis and sev¬ 
eral of the finest of the group are natives of the eastern half of the 
United States, where at certain seasons they are among the most 
abundant of butterflies. 
Many of the species are of good size and very beautiful. The 
usual color of the wings is reddish tan or brownish orange with 
sharply defined dark brown or black markings in the shape of ir¬ 
regular lines and spots, while beneath, the ground color is generally 
somewhat lighter. On the upper wings, except along the outer mar¬ 
gin and in the space at the upper angle, the markings of the upper 
side are repeated, but are less sharply defined. The lower wings and 
the outer margins of the upper pair are usually adorned with bril¬ 
liant satiny white spots, which look as if made of silver and highly 
polished. 
In a few of the species the males and females differ greatly, but 
in the majority of kinds they are much alike. 
According to Mr. Comstock, “ More than fifty species occur in 
America north of Mexico.” Many kinds resemble each other 
closely, so that they are at times very difficult to separate. Mr. 
Holland, writing of this genus, says, “ Owing to the fact that there 
is a great tendency in many of the forms closely to approximate one 
another, the accurate distinction of many of the species has troubled 
naturalists, and it is quite probable that some of the so-called species 
will ultimately be discovered to be merely local races or varietal 
forms.” 
