NYMPHALIDiE. 
287 
The caterpillars are covered with fleshy spines and bristles. 
They feed upon the different species of violets, and are nocturnal 
in their habits, hiding by day. Many of the species hibernate over 
winter in the young larval state and resume feeding the next spring. 
The chrysalides are slightly angular with rows of blunt tubercles on 
the dorsal side. They are frequently light reddish brown or pink¬ 
ish brown in color, and some are adorned with spots of yellow and 
dark brown. 
Argynnis idalia. Under side. 
The number of species of this genus to be found in the western 
portion of this country is very great, but none of the forms from the 
far west are to my thinking the rival in beauty of our own richly 
colored Argynnis idalia. In the female the upper wings are red¬ 
dish orange with heavy black margins and spots, and have a row 
of cream colored spots extending along the outer margin. The 
lower wings are black with a purple tinge, except on the upper 
portion, which is yellowish brown. Two rows of large cream col¬ 
ored spots adorn the wings, while a row of narrow elongated spots 
follow the fringe on the outer margin of both sets of wings. Be¬ 
neath, the upper wings are a little lighter and more reddish, with 
the black markings less distinct, while along the upper and outer 
margin are several silvery white spots enclosed in rings of black. 
