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MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
This insect makes its appearance in July, and is sometimes seen 
in some abundance. The females are much less common than the 
males. A collector friend of mine who had never seen this insect 
alive, was out with a net one day in Western Virginia, and came 
suddenly upon three of these fine insects, two males and one female, 
in the road. They immediately rose in the air and circled about him, 
while my friend was so much surprised and so fearful, that they 
would leave if he made the least motion, that he stood like a statue 
not daring to make a strike lest he should miss, until they were well 
out of his reach. 
Argynnis cybele. Male. 
Argynnis cybele is also a large and very handsome butterfly. 
The sexes generally differ a good deal in size, the male being the 
smaller, while its markings are less heavy, and the ground color 
is lighter and more reddish. On the under side, too, the female 
is darker than the male, the silvery spots showing to better 
advantage. 
During July this insect is one of our most abundant species, 
frequenting flowering plants growing in meadowy land, particu¬ 
larly the swamp milkweeds, on the pink clusters of which one 
will often see two or three of these fine butterflies. 
It is a swift flying insect but does not seem to be shy when 
feeding. 
