near the ground. Palpi have the second joint thick, the third joint
tapering, lightly clothed with scales. Fore wings rounded at apex, the
outer and inner margins lightly excavated, cell closed by a feeble
lower discocellular, which often is wanting, thus leaving the cell
open. Outer margin of hind wings sinuous, produced at end of third
median nervule, cell open. First and second subcostal nervules in fore
wing fuse with costal.
There are four species of this genus, one of which occurs in the United
States, the rest being found in tropical America.
[Illustration: PL. XXXVII]
(1) _Anartia jatrophæ_ (Linnæus), Plate XXXVII, ♂ (The White Peacock).
The figure we give will readily serve to identify this insect, which
occurs in Florida and Texas, and ranges thence southward to Argentina.
Expanse 1.75-2.00 inches.
GENUS EUNICA HÜBNER
(THE VIOLET-WINGS).
Rather small butterflies. Antennæ long and slender, with enlarged club,
having two grooves. Third joint of palpi of female longer than that of
male. The fore wing has the costal and median vein enlarged and swollen
at the base. The upper discocellular vein is wanting, the cell is
lightly closed. The hind wing is rounded, with its outer margin entire.
The species of the genus have the upper side of the wings dark brown
or black glossed with violet, blue, or purple. Below the wings are
very beautifully marked. There are about seventy species which have
been described, all of them from the American tropics, two of which,
however, come within our borders, _Eunica tatila_, occurring in
Florida, and the following:
[Illustration: PL. XXXVIII]
(1) _Eunica monima_ (Cramer), Plate XXXVIII, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (The
Dingy Purple-wing).
This obscure little butterfly represents its genus in Texas and
Florida, and gives but a faint idea of the beauty of many of its
congeners. It ranges southward and is common in Mexico and the Greater
Antilles. Expanse 1.35-1.50 inch.
GENUS CYSTINEURA BOISDUVAL
(THE BAG-VEINS).
Small, delicate butterflies with elongated fore wings, having the
costal vein much swollen near the base, somewhat as in the _Satyrinæ_.
The upper discocellular is lacking in the fore wing, and the cell is
feebly closed. Outer margin of the hind wing feebly crenulate; cell
open; the two radials spring from a common point.
A number of species and local races have been described.
[Illustration: PL. XXXIX]
(1) _Cystineura amymone_ Ménétries, Plate XXXIX, ♂ (The Texas Bag-vein).
On the under side the gray markings of the upper side are replaced by
yellow, and on the hind wings there is a transverse white band near the
base and an incomplete row of white spots on the limbal area. Expanse
1.50 inch.
Ranges from Kansas southward through Texas into Central America.
GENUS CALLICORE HÜBNER
(THE LEOPARD-SPOTS).
Small butterflies; the upper side of the wings dark in color marked
with bands of metallic blue or silvery green, the lower side more or
less brilliantly colored, the fore wings of some shade of crimson or
yellow, banded near the apex, the hind wings silvery white or some pale
tint, with circular bands of black enclosing round or pear-shaped black
spots.
There are about thirty-five species of the genus thus far known, all of
which are found south of our limits, except the one we figure.
[Illustration: PL. XL]
(1) _Callicore clymena_ Hübner, Plate XL, Fig. 1, ♂, _upper side_; Fig.
2, ♀, _under side_ (The Leopard-spot).
Found in Florida, but though quite common farther south, appears to be
rather local and rare in the peninsula. Expanse 1.75 inch.
GENUS TIMETES BOISDUVAL (THE DAGGER-WINGS).
Medium-sized butterflies. Palpi moderately long, thickly clothed with
scales, the last joint pointed. Fore wing usually somewhat falcate at
apex, deeply excavated on outer margin; hind wing greatly produced at
the end of the third median nervule, the wings being tailed in such a
way as to make them resemble some species of _Papilio_. There is also a
prolongation of the outer margin of the wing between the extremity of
the submedian vein and the first median nervule. On the upper side the
wings are generally dark in color, often marked with transverse bands
and lines; on the lower side they are light in color, with pronounced
darker bands.
Of the thirty species thus far known four occur within our territory,
all of them being found far south.
[Illustration: PL. XLI]
(1) _Timetes coresia_ (Godart), Plate XLI, ♂, _under side_ (The Waiter).
Easily recognized by the figure we give. As I stated in “The Butterfly
Book” it deserves the trivial name I have given it, its black upper
side and the white vest it wears suggesting the functionary who attends
us at table. Expanse 2.50 inches.
Occasionally found in Texas.
GENUS HYPOLIMNAS HÜBNER
(THE TROPIC QUEENS).
Large butterflies, our species being one of the smallest of the genus.
Palpi produced, heavily scaled, rising above the head. Fore wings
excavated on the outer margin; costal and median veins stout; upper
discocellular vein wanting, and lower discocellular feeble or lacking.
Hind wings somewhat crenulate on the outer margin, the cell, which is
relatively quite small, being feebly closed by an attenuated veinlet.
The genus, which is quite large, reaches its greatest development in
the tropics of the Old World, and there is only one species in the
western hemisphere, which may have been introduced in the old days of
the slave trade. Most of the species are mimics and the strange thing
is that the mimicking form is generally the female, which has the color
and markings of some one or other of the milkweed butterflies of the
African and oriental tropics. The female of our species patterns after
the markings of _Danais chrysippus_, a common milkweed butterfly of
Africa. This adaptation of species to the form and color of “protected”
insects is of course not _conscious_. It is the result of a long
evolution in past ages.
[Illustration: PL. XLII]
[Illustration: PL. XLIII]
(1) _Hypolimnas misippus_ (Linnæus), Plate XLII, ♂; Plate XLIII, ♀ (The
Mimic).
Occurs in Florida, the Antilles, and northern South America. While very
abundant in Africa, it seems to be scarce in the New World. The female
differs greatly from the male on the upper side of the wings, but
resembles that sex on the lower side. Expanse ♂, 2.50 inches; ♀ 3.00
inches.
GENUS BASILARCHIA SCUDDER
(THE WHITE ADMIRALS).
Rather large _butterflies_. Fore wings subtriangular, rounded at the
apex, and lightly excavated on the lower two thirds of the outer
margin. Hind wings rounded, somewhat crenulate. _Egg_ nearly spherical
(see Plate C, Fig. _f_) pitted with large hexagonal cells. The
_caterpillar_ in its mature state cylindrical, with the second segment
adorned with two prominent club-shaped tubercles, and the fifth, ninth,
and tenth segments also having raised tubercles (see Plate C, Fig.
_h_). They feed upon oaks, birches, willows, and lindens, preferably
the two latter. The caterpillars after hatching hibernate in little
winter quarters, which they make out of the fragment of a small leaf,
which they tie together with silken threads, and also secure to the
twig by a few strands. The _chrysalis_ has a projecting boss on the
back; the head is either rounded or slightly bifid.
There are a number of species in the United States, several of which
mimic other butterflies in a singular manner, _B. disippus_ closely
resembling _Anosia plexippus_. The caterpillars do not pupate until
summer has come; the butterflies take wing when the lindens bloom.
[Illustration: PL. XLIV]
(1) _Basilarchia astyanax_ (Fabricius), Plate XLIV, ♀ (The Red-spotted
Purple).
Our figure gives a good idea of the upper side of the wings. On the
lower side the wings are brown, banded with black on the margins, the
inner row of marginal spots being red, with two red spots at the base
of the fore wings, and four such spots at the base of the hind wings.
Palpi white below; a white stripe along the sides of the abdomen.
Expanse 3.00-3.25 inches. The egg and caterpillar are shown on Plate C.
The caterpillar is found on a variety of plants, but most commonly on
lindens, willows, and wild cherry trees.
Found all over the United States and Canada, as far west as the Rocky
Mountains, but not in the very hot lowlands of the Gulf region. Is said
to occur on the uplands of Mexico.
Between _B. astyanax_ and the following species, _B. arthemis_, there
is more or less affinity. They represent two lines of evolution from a
common ancestry, and there are evidences of atavic reversion to type
constantly occurring in both forms. They even occasionally interbreed
with each other, and hybrids are not altogether uncommon. The whole
genus in fact is in a more or less plastic state, and well deserves the
careful attention of biologists.
[Illustration: PL. XLV]
(2) _Basilarchia arthemis_ (Drury), Plate XLV, ♂ (The Banded Purple).
Our figure shows the upper side of the form which is most usual.
It will be seen that there are red spots on the hind wings behind
the white band. There is a variety called _proserpina_ in which the
white band becomes very narrow and the red spots almost or entirely
disappear. When the white band and the red spots wholly disappear, as
they sometimes do, it is almost impossible to distinguish this species
from _B. astyanax_. Expanse 2.50-2.75 inches. The egg has “kite-shaped”
cells. The caterpillar feeds on willows, hawthorns, and wild apple and
plum trees.
Found in Canada, New England, and southward in Pennsylvania upon the
higher ranges of the mountains. It is a northern form. It has not thus
far been recorded from the western half of the continent, where it is
replaced by a somewhat similarly marked, but larger, species, known as
_B. Weidemeyeri_. The latter insect is found as far east as western
Nebraska and Colorado. I have taken it very frequently in Wyoming
about Laramie Peak, where it seems to be a common insect in the wooded
canyons.
[Illustration: PL. XLVI]
(3) _Basilarchia disippus_ (Godart), Plate XLVI, ♂; Plate C, Fig. _f_,
egg; Fig. _h_, larva. (The Viceroy).
Mimics _Anosia plexippus_. Range from Canada to the Gulf.
This is one of the most striking cases of mimicry which occurs in our
fauna.
[Illustration: PL. XLVII]
(4) _Basilarchia lorquini_ (Boisduval), Plate XLVII, ♂ (Lorquin’s
Admiral).
Easily distinguished by white bar at end of cell of fore wing and red
spot at apex. Expanse 2.25-2.75 inches.
GENUS ADELPHA HÜBNER (THE SISTERS).
Cell of fore wing lightly closed, of hind wing open; outer margin of
wings rarely excavated. The chrysalids have peculiar forms, having
bifid heads and broad wing-cases; marked with metallic spots on a brown
ground.
There are many species in tropical America, some of which are very
showy; only one occurs within our limits.
[Illustration: PL. XLVIII]
(1) _Adelpha californica_ Butler, Plate XLVIII, ♂ (The Californian
Sister).
The insect, well displayed in our figure, has an expanse of from
2.50-3.00 inches. The caterpillar feeds upon oaks. The range is through
southern California, Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, and Mexico.
GENUS CHLORIPPE BOISDUVAL
(THE EMPEROR BUTTERFLIES).
Small _butterflies_ generally of some shade of fulvous, with a
submarginal row of eye-like spots on the hind wings, and in a few
species with a similar spot on the fore wings. The apex of the fore
wing is somewhat truncated and the lower two thirds is slightly
excavated. Hind wings somewhat elongated posteriorly at the anal angle.
Outer margins more or less crenulate. _Eggs_ nearly globular, broad
on top, ornamented with eighteen to twenty broad, but low, vertical
ribs, between which are delicate crosslines; laid in clusters. Head of
_caterpillar_ squarish, crowned by two diverging spines on which are
many little spinules. Back of the head there is a frill of spines. Body
thickest at the middle, tapering fore and aft. Hind pair of pro-legs
long and diverging. They feed upon hackberry trees (_Celtis_). The
_chrysalis_ has a very remarkable arrangement of the cremaster, which
is disk-like, studded with hooks; the whole so arranged that the pupa,
when suspended, hangs with the ventral or belly side parallel to the
supporting surface.
There are numerous species in the genus, many of them tropical and very
brilliant, only two commonly occur in the northern portions of our
territory, the others found within our limits being inhabitants of the
Southern States.
[Illustration: PL. XLIX]
(1) _Chlorippe celtis_ Boisduval & Leconte, Plate XLIX, Fig. 1, ♂ (The
Hackberry Butterfly).
Under side grayish purple, with the spots and markings of the upper
side reappearing. Female larger, and, as always is the case in the
genus, with the fore wings not so pointed as in the male, and the
ground-color paler. Expanse ♂, 1.80 inch; ♀, 2.10 inch.
Ranges from New Jersey west and south to the Gulf.
(2) _Chlorippe clyton_ Boisduval & Leconte, Plate XLIX, Fig. 2, ♂ (The
Tawny Emperor).
A larger species than the preceding; tawnier on the upper side of the
wings and lacking the red-ringed eye-spot on the fore wing. Female
much larger than the male, paler in color, with the eye-spots on the
hind wings black and conspicuous. Expanse ♂, 2.00 inches; ♀, 2.50-2.65
inches.
Occurs rather rarely in New England, and extends westward to Michigan,
thence southward to the Gulf of Mexico.
[Illustration: PL. L]
(3) _Chlorippe flora_ Edwards, Plate L, Fig. 1, ♂, _Type_ (The Red
Emperor).
Like _C. clyton_ this species has no red-ringed eye-spot on the fore
wing. The ground-color on the upper side is bright reddish fulvous; the
hind wings are not heavily obscured with brown, as is the case in _C.
clyton_, and the black ocelli stand forth very prominently upon the
lighter ground. The hind wings are more strongly angulated than in
any other North American species, and are solidly bordered with black.
Expanse ♂, 1.75; ♀, 2.35 inches. Ranges from Florida westward along the
borders of the Gulf of Mexico to Texas.
(4) _Chlorippe alicia_ Edwards, Plate L, Fig. 2, ♂, _Type_ (The Buff
Emperor).
Resembles _C. celtis_ in having an ocellus in the fore wing, but it may
at once be distinguished by its larger size in both sexes, the paler
color of the wings on the upper side, which shade from pale fulvous at
the base into light buff outwardly, upon which the eye-spots on the
hind wings show up very prominently. Expanse ♂, 2.00; ♀, 2.50 inches.
The range of this species is the same as that of the preceding.
GENUS HYPANARTIA HÜBNER (THE BANDED REDS).
Medium-sized butterflies. Palpi well clothed with scales, the second
and third joints very nearly of the same size, the latter blunt. Fore
wings square at the apex, slightly excavated about the middle, the
cell being closed by a stout lower discocellular vein, more or less
continuous with the third median nervule. Hind wing strongly produced
at the end of the third median nervule, rounded at the outer angle,
with two short tooth-like projections before the anal angle.
There are less than a dozen species of the genus, most of which are
South American, but there are two in Africa and one in Madagascar. Only
one occurs within the United States, and is confined to the extreme
south.
[Illustration: PL. LI]
(1) _Hypanartia lethe_ (Fabricius), Plate LI, ♂ (The Orange-banded Red).
Occurs as a straggler in our fauna in the extreme southern part of
Texas, but is very abundant farther south. Expanse 2.00 inches.
GENUS SMYRNA HÜBNER
There are only two species of this genus and they closely resemble each
other, so that it is hard to tell them apart. The one which occurs in
our borders has the hind wing rounded at the anal angle, the other, _S.
blomfildi_, has the anal angle of the hind wing squared, with a slight
tail-like prolongation. On the under side both species are marked in
much the same way.
[Illustration: PL. LII]
(1) _Smyrna karwinskii_ Hübner, Plate LII, ♀ (Karwinski’s Beauty).
The insect may be at once recognized by the figure we give. Expanse
3.00-3.25 inches.
It occurs in southern Texas and ranges southward into Brazil.
GENUS CŒA HÜBNER
This is a monotypic genus, that is to say, it contains only one
species. It is therefore not necessary to take up much space in
describing it, because the figure we give will enable the reader at
once to recognize it. It is a very powerful insect on the wing.
[Illustration: PL. LIII]
(1) _Cœa acheronta_ (Fabricius), Plate LIII, ♂ (The Dash-wing).
This lovely insect, which has a certain resemblance to the following
species, is common in the Greater Antilles, Mexico, and Central
America. It occurs about Brownsville, Texas, but is not common there.
Expanse 3.00-3.25 inches.
GENUS AGANISTHOS BOISDUVAL
The genus, like the preceding, is monotypic, and contains but the
one species _A. odius_ (Fabricius). It is so striking and so easily
recognizable by the figure we give on Plate LIV that nothing more need
be said, except that it has a wide range through the American tropics,
being found in southern Florida and Texas, the Greater Antilles, and
from Mexico to southern Brazil. Expanse 3.75-4.00 inches.
[Illustration: PL. LIV]
GENUS PYRRHANÆA SCHATZ
Medium-sized _butterflies_. Front wings falcate at apex; hind wings
tailed at end of third median nervule. Costal margin of fore wing
angulated at base, inner margin straight. Upper side of wings generally
fulvous or red; lower side mottled and marked so as to resemble dried
leaves. _Egg_ spheroid, flattened at base, depressed on top, marked
with a few rows of raised points about summit. _Caterpillar_ with
head globular, first segment behind it much smaller than head; body
cylindrical tapering behind. _Chrysalis_ short, stout, keeled on sides;
cremaster globular at tip, and so arranged as to cause the chrysalis to
hang at a slant.
This is a large genus characteristic of the American tropics. The larvæ
feed on euphorbiaceous and lauraceous plants, after the third moult
making hiding-places for themselves by rolling up leaves and tying
them with silk. There are three species in the United States, two of
which we figure.
[Illustration: PL. LV]
(1) _Pyrrhanæa andria_ (Scudder), Plate LV, ♂ (The Goatweed Butterfly).
Bright red above, margins dusky; on under side gray dusted with brown
scales. Females marked by incomplete pale bands on the limbal area.
Expanse ♂, 2.50; ♀, 3.00 inches. Larva feeds on _Croton capitatum_.
Ranges from Illinois and Nebraska to Texas.
[Illustration: PL. LVI]
(2) _Pyrrhanæa morrisoni_ (Edwards), Plate LVI, ♀ (Morrison’s Goatweed
Butterfly).
More brilliantly and deeply red on upper side than preceding species.
Both male and female have the wings with bands of lighter color on the
limbal area, but these are not solid, as in the female of _P. andria_,
but made up of spots, as shown in the figure. Expanse 2.25-2.50 inches.
Found in Arizona and Mexico.
The genus which is here engaging our attention is one which is
wonderfully well represented in the New World, where it takes the place
of the magnificent insects belonging to the genus _Charaxes_ of the
tropics of the Old World. On the under side they closely mimic dried
leaves. This assimilation to the color of dead leaves is protective.
GENUS AGERONIA HÜBNER (THE CALICOES).
Medium or moderately large-sized butterflies. Costal and subcostal
fused near base; cells of both wings closed. Upper side of wings
curiously marked with checkered spots, generally some shade of blue
with white; under side with broad paler shades: white, yellow, or red.
They are rapid fliers, alight on the trunks of trees head downward,
wings expanded against the bark of the tree. When they fly they make
a clicking sound with their wings. The manner in which this sound is
produced is a mystery. Bates in his _A Naturalist on the Amazons_
writes about it but gives no explanation. In my rambles in tropical
forests I have heard it as the insects gyrated above my head, but I do
not know how the sound is made.
There are about thirty species of the genus in tropical America, two of
which are occasionally found in southern Texas.
[Illustration: PL. LVII]
(1) _Ageronia feronia_ (Linnæus), Plate LVII, ♂ (The White-skirted
Calico).
The ground-color of the under side is broadly white, while that of the
other species in our fauna, _A. fornax_, is yellow. They may thus be
easily told apart.
GENUS VICTORINA BLANCHARD
(THE MALACHITES).
Large butterflies, conspicuously marked with pale green spots
surrounded by darker color. On the under side the wings are paler, and
have a satiny lustre, the edges of the light spots on this side marbled
with brown. Neuration of fore wing singular in that the upper and
lower discocellulars are wanting and the radials seem to spring from
the lower side of the subcostal before the middle; the third median
is strongly bowed upward. Hind wing tailed at end of the third median
nervule.
There are five species of the genus thus far known, all belonging to
the American tropics, one of which occurs in Florida and Texas.
[Illustration: PL. LVIII]
(1) _Victorina steneles_ (Linnæus), Plate LVIII, ♂ (The Pearly
Malachite).
There is no need of an elaborate description of this species, as it is
the only one of its genus in our borders, and the figure we give is
fully recognizable. Expanse 3.50-4.00 inches.
SUBFAMILY SATYRINÆ (THE SATYRS).
_Butterflies_ generally of medium size, obscure in color, their wings,
especially on the under side, ornamented with dark eye-like spots,
pupilled in the centre with a light point and ringed around with one
or more circles of lighter color. They have a weak flight, dancing
about in the herbage and often hiding among grasses and weeds. Most
of them are forest-loving, but some live on the summits of bleak and
cold mountains, others on the verge of arctic snows, and some on the
prairies. Veins of the fore wings generally greatly swollen at the
base, thus enabling them to be distinguished from almost all other
butterflies. _Eggs_ subspherical, somewhat higher than broad, ribbed
on the sides, particularly at the apex, and rounded at the base.
_Caterpillars_, when they emerge from the egg, have their heads much
bigger in diameter than the rest of the body, but as they mature they
lose this feature, and generally taper from the middle of the body in
either direction. Anal pro-legs bifurcating, thus readily distinguished
from all other caterpillars, except those of the genus _Chlorippe_.
They feed upon grasses and sedges, concealing themselves in the daytime
and coming forth to feed at night. _Chrysalids_ short and stout, plain
both in color and outline.
There are about sixty species of _Satyrinæ_ in the region with which
this manual deals, falling into ten genera. We shall only deal with the
commoner species.
GENUS DEBIS WESTWOOD
(THE EYED NYMPHS).
This is a large genus, especially well represented in Asia and the
Indo-Malayan region. Dr. S. H. Scudder set apart the two species we
have in our fauna from the Asiatic forms, under the new name _Enodia_,
but I have never been able to see any good reason for this, and keep
the generic name as it has long stood. The creation of new genera upon
the basis of slight differences is to be deprecated and avoided.
[Illustration: PL. LIX]
(1) _Debis portlandia_ (Fabricius), Plate LIX, ♂ (The Pearly Eye).
The butterfly which is well depicted in our figure has a series of
beautiful ocelli on the under side. There is no great difference
between the sexes. In the Northern States it is single-brooded, in the
South it is double-brooded. Expanse of wing 1.75-2.00 inches.
The caterpillar feeds on grasses. The insect ranges from Maine to the
Gulf, and westward to the Rocky Mountains.
[Illustration: PL. LX]
(2) _Debis creola_ Skinner, Plate LX, ♂ (The Creole).
Easily distinguished from the foregoing by the elongated patches of
dark raised scales upon the fore wings. Expanse 2.25 inches. The
specimen figured is a paratype received from the author of the species.
Ranges from Florida to Mexico along the Gulf.
GENUS SATYRODES SCUDDER
(THE GRASS-NYMPH).