Part 2

The Coalburgh chrysalids produced typical _Alope_, with broad yellow bands, and like the females which laid the eggs. Therefore outside the belt of dimorphism _Alope_ produced _Alope_, but inside the belt _Alope_ produced _Nephele_ and _Nephele_ produced _Alope_.

In conclusion:

In Canada the typical _Nephele_ is the only form representing the genus Satyrus, except that possibly in some localities _Alope_ or intergrades may appear; but if so, it is only occasionally. In New York and part of New England a belt of latitude is passed where in one section or other both these forms fly, besides an endless variety of intergrades. Finally, _Alope_ emerges in the south from this belt as the only form, and inhabits a broad zone, which ends about with the southern line of North Carolina and of Tennessee, but at the southwest flies in parts of Texas, and has become slightly modified when compared with the _Alope_ of the middle States. And to the west, somewhere between New York and Illinois, _Alope_ disappears, and a slightly changed form of _Nephele_ presents itself, and occupies the country to and on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. In some cases this cannot be distinguished from the typical _Nephele_, but as a whole, it has taken a departure, and has come to have differences in its larva and chrysalis. I call this form variety _Olympus_ (after the companion of the satyr Marsyas when the latter had his little difficulty with Apollo).

The relationship between _Alope_ and _Nephele_ is in good degree paralleled by L. _Arthemis_ and _Proserpina_, the first of which occupies the northern half of the Continent, but is dimorphic with the other in a belt of latitude which passes through the northern States from Maine to Wisconsin. _Proserpina_ emerges from this belt on the south, and grades imperceptibly into _Ursula_, which last changes gradually till it has acquired a type, in Arizona, as different from that in which it manifests itself in Pennsylvania as the Texan _Alope_ is from _Alope_ of New York. This belt is nearly coterminous on both north and south with the belt of dimorphism in the Satyrids. It is worthy of note also that the dimorphism of P. _Turnus_ begins inside this belt.

In this last-named species it has been supposed that the melanic form (confined to the female, _Glaucus_) first originated by accident, and was afterwards perpetuated and obtained an advantage over the yellow form, and finally in good degree supplanted it throughout its southern area, and that the existence of enemies had much to do with the suppression of one form, while their absence favored the other. What influence has gradually transmuted _Alope_ into _Nephele_ it is difficult to conjecture. It could not here be the presence or absence of enemies which has affected one or other form. And if it is climatic, what can there be in common between the climate of Canada and Illinois which encourages _Nephele_ and extinguishes _Alope_?

In a second paper I shall speak of _Pegala_ and the Pacific species of this genus.

[1] I shall be greatly obliged to any readers of this who will give me information as to the occurrence of _Nephele_ or _Alope_ west of New York. Two plates of Part IX Butterflies of North America will be devoted to the illustration of these forms and varieties, and intergrades, and I desire to make the history of the species as complete as possible in the text.

ENTOMOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS.

BY JAMES FLETCHER, OTTAWA, ONT.

Entomology seems to be gradually throwing off the veil of contempt under which it has been so long hidden. The Botanist has always to a certain extent been deemed a philosopher from the important part plants play in Pharmacy; the Geologist and Mineralogist, too, from the possibility of their discovering precious metals have been treated by the outside unscientific world as sages worthy of some respect. Entomologists, however, have not thus been honored by the masses. The question would be asked—What tangible results can come from collecting flies and bugs and sticking pins through them? and in vain the amount of damage done by insects year by year might be estimated and pointed out. This state of affairs though I believe is now at an end. The claims of the science on all agriculturists and horticulturists are daily becoming more apparent. The institution of the United States Entomological Commission, and the success that has attended that organization from the happy choice of such men as Messrs. C. V. Riley and A. S. Packard as directors, has perhaps done more than anything else to open people’s eyes to the fact that after all there is something in Entomology. In Canada, too, much good work has been done. In 1868 two Entomological magazines were started, our own important organ, the CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, in August, for Ontario; and _Le Naturaliste Canadien_, edited by the Abbé Provancher, in December, for Quebec; to these is chiefly due the progress the science has made in Canada. The Editors of the CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST--Rev. C. J. S. Bethune (1868-1873), and since that time our present esteemed Editor—have always by their many charming and descriptive papers evinced a desire to make the study of Entomology as fascinating and easy as possible for beginners, while at the same time they have paid full respect to their scientific readers. _Le Naturaliste Canadien_ is published in the French language. It was commenced in December, 1868, from which time the Abbé Provancher has fought bravely, and almost single-handed, against all obstacles, striving by its means to create among the French Canadians a love for the natural sciences, particularly Entomology. I am very sorry to see by the December number that on account of the grant which the Editor received from the Government having been discontinued, his valuable work may possibly be stopped; this would be a great pity, and every Entomologist ought to give a hand in helping him out of his difficulty. The magazine has been of great value to the farmers of Lower Canada, who in its pages have always received courteous answers on any subjects in the many branches of natural history affecting agriculture.

In the eleven volumes of the ENTOMOLOGIST now published, or in the Annual Reports of the Society, descriptions of nearly all the common Canadian insects, and illustrations of many of them, will be found. I would particularly call attention to a paper in the Annual Report of 1872 by Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, entitled “Beneficial Insects.” This gives an outline sketch in a concise manner of the different divisions into which insects are divided and the distinguishing points of each.

With the above mentioned volumes and Dr. Packard’s Guide to the Study of Insects, a very complete knowledge of the rudiments of Entomology can be obtained; the rest can only be learned by observation and experience in the field. Undoubtedly the first and most important step of all is to commence a collection. Study can only be carried on satisfactorily from the actual specimens, which should be examined alive whenever possible and full notes taken of any striking peculiarities observed; when preparing specimens for the cabinet, the one idea which has to be borne in mind, and upon which the whole value and beauty of the collection depends, is that they may appear natural, and a knowledge of how to effect this can only be attained by observing living specimens.

At the last annual meeting of the Society the importance of popularizing Entomology was discussed, and the Editor of the ENTOMOLOGIST kindly consented to give up some space every month entirely to popular Entomology, for the benefit of beginners and others who are unable to study the science systematically; this step it was considered might materially increase the usefulness of our Society. It is proposed to have short papers on individual species, which will be illustrated whenever possible, and there will also be papers on the best modes of making and preserving collections. The work will be considerably facilitated if beginners will state any difficulties which they may encounter, for it is only by their mentioning their difficulties that the Editor can know how to assist them. Any questions which are of such a nature that they will be likely to assist others in their studies will be answered through the pages of the ENTOMOLOGIST when space admits.

THE CALOSOMAS OR CATERPILLAR-HUNTERS.

These insects belong to the Family called CARABIDÆ, which is a large and difficult Family to study, or even to define and limit exactly. The insects belonging to it are remarkable for their graceful forms, and at the same time for their cruel and predaceous habits, both in the larval and perfect states. It is this last trait which makes them such useful auxiliaries to the horticulturist.

The better known of the two represented here is called _Calosoma calidum_, Fabr., (fig. 4) or “The Glowing Beautiful-bodied Caterpillar-hunter.” As an exception to the general rule, its English name is more formidable than the Latin; but so important a personage is its bearer that I will not deprive him of a single letter of his title, and indeed am almost tempted to add to it the words “most useful.” It well merits its appellation, _Calosoma_ (_Kalos_ = beautiful, and _Soma_ = a body). Fig. 4 gives a life-size representation of it. The color of the polished elytra or wing-covers is a deep blue-black, and the six rows of dots with which they are adorned are of a fiery burnished red, for which reason it has been called by the specific name of _calidum_. The legs in our figure are too thick and clumsy, but it must be well known to everyone. It may generally be found in early summer in damp pastures, either hidden under stones or running in the grass in search of caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects. Jaeger, who first called the members of this genus caterpillar-hunters, says “they may be found every morning and evening upon the branches of trees, looking out for caterpillars and devouring them.” They do not, however, restrict themselves to caterpillars, for they will attack and devour a perfect June-bug when fresh from the pupa state and soft, with apparently the same relish as their special dainty, a fat Cut-worm. In the larval state they are equally rapacious; they lurk in holes in the ground or under sticks and stones in the day-time, and only leave their retreats as night draws on to go in search of prey. Every spring I have several of these useful and luckily common beetles brought to me by kind friends who have found them in their gardens. To the enquiry, “Is this of any use to you?” I have always the answer ready, which somewhat surprises them: “No, but it is of particular use to you; take it carefully back and put it in your garden again; it is the best friend you have there, for it feeds entirely upon your enemies, the Wire-worms, Cut-worms and White-worms.”

I am sure that through the agency of this beetle alone I have been able to gain more respect for the science of Entomology among horticulturists than from all the rest put together.

Much resembling this beetle in shape, but of a very much more striking appearance, is its near relative, _Calosoma scrutator_, Fabr., the “Beautiful-bodied Searcher,” fig. 5. The color of its wing-covers is bright metallic green, garnished with longitudinal lines and sparsely punctured; round the margin runs an effective line of coppery-red. The head, thorax and legs are almost black; the margin of the thorax having a greenish tinge. The under side is of a deep burnished blue-green hue. Its habits are the same as those of _C. calidum_, but it is a much rarer insect. I have never seen a live specimen; but they are occasionally found in Ontario, and dead specimens are said to be frequently washed up on the outer shore of Toronto Island after a southerly gale.

* * * * *

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1879.—The Annual Report of our Society for the past year is now nearly ready for issue. Members may expect to receive their copies within a few days.

THREE NEW SPECIES OF BOTIS.

BY A. R. GROTE,

_Director of the Museum, Buffalo Society Natural Sciences_.

BOTIS OPPILALIS, n. sp.

♂ ♀ Allied to the _feudalis_, _s-linealis_ group. Pale ochrey, opaque, powdered with deeper ochre and fuscous scales. Discal dots small, indistinct, orbicular a solid point, reniform an open ring. Lines acutely dentate. Outer line exserted opposite the cell, forming an inward tooth at vein 2, and again another at vein 1, on primaries. On hind wings the outer line runs evenly outward till over the median nervules, where it approaches the margin, then running inwardly and straight across to internal margin. This species wants the usual subcostal indentation of the outer line on secondaries. A terminal ochre line. Thorax deep ochrey. Beneath whitish; primaries shaded with ochrey superiorly; markings of upper surface faintly repeated. Fringes concolorous or a little paler than wings. _Expanse_ 28 mil. Two specimens, Mass.; one male sent me by Prof. Peabody from Amherst, Mass.; Maine, Dr. Packard.

BOTIS OSCITALIS, n. s.

♂ ♀ Allied to the preceding, but both the discal marks are open. Opaque, ochrey, but more dusty, or fuscous tinted. Lines in lunulated thick scallops, not fine and dentate. Outer line forming three more exserted scallops over median nervules, strongly drawn in below median vein, with an outward projection below vein 2, else the lower part of the line is tolerably even. Hind wings paler than primaries with the outer line drawn in sub-costally and forming three exserted lunules over the median nervules, thence running inwardly and more evenly and faintly to internal margin. Fringes a little paler than the wing; terminal line obsolete. Head and thorax like fore wings. Beneath paler, with the pale fuscous markings repeated, slightly iridescent; body parts whitish. Labial palpi dark above, whitish beneath. _Expanse_ 27 mil. Two specimens, Ohio, Mr. Dury; Maine, Dr. Packard.

BOTIS DISSECTALIS, n. s.

Allied to _marculenta_. Of the same bright yellow, shading to ochreous at base of primaries on costa and sides of the thorax in front. Ornamentation sub-obsolete. This species wants the subterminal line of _marculenta_. Instead there is a vague and broad darker shade only visible with attention. The outer line is rounded outwardly over the median nervules, as in _trimaculalis_. It is apparently disconnected below vein 3, appearing again higher up below the open reniform and describing an inward curve above vein 1. The orbicular dot is imperceptible and the inner line very faint. Fringes faintly discolorous, being pale fuscous, concolorous with the lines. Hind wings very pale fuscous with a slight yellow cast. The line is continuous, squarely projected over median nervules, very different from allied forms. A pale terminal line before the pale fuscous fringes. Beneath largely washed with fuscous, legs outwardly white. On primaries the marking of the upper surface reappears relieved by pale interspaceal blotches; hind wings pale fuscous, uniform, with the line repeated. Palpi white beneath, dark at the sides. _Habitat_, Hamilton, Ontario, Mr. Moffat. The species seems a little stouter bodied than _marculenta_, of about the same expanse.

CORRESPONDENCE.

SWARMING OF ARCHIPPUS.

DEAR SIR,—

The assembling of _D. archippus_ referred to in CAN. ENT. is perhaps not so frequently noticed as their passing over localities in flocks. Several years ago I saw them congregating in a bit of woods in the neighborhood of the city which I was visiting at the time. At least every other day they were hanging in a listless kind of manner to the underside of branches in immense numbers, with their wings closed, and not noticeable unless disturbed, very few being on the wing. Their favorite resting place seemed to be dead pine twigs, which would be drooping with their weight, and in more than one instance I saw one too many light and the twig snap, and send a dozen or more into the air to seek for another perch. In going to and from the woods I have seen several of them at once coming from different directions, high in the air, sailing along in their own easy and graceful way, all converging to the one spot. I did not see them depart. I went one day and could not find one in the woods; and as there were thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of them, it would have been a fine sight to see them go. The following year they were remarkably scarce and it was three years before they were even moderately plenty.

J. ALSTON MOFFAT, Hamilton, Ont.

SWARMING OF ARCHIPPUS.

DEAR SIR,—

I was surprised to learn from the letter of Mr. Edwards in your last issue, that the flocking of _archippus_ is not a well known fact in Entomology, and in view of this I venture to add a few facts in regard to it which may be of interest.

While spending the winter of 1875-76 in Apalachicola, Florida, I found one of these _archippus_ swarms in a pine grove not far from the town. The trees were literally festooned with butterflies within an area of about an acre, and they were clustered so thickly that the trees seemed to be covered with dead leaves; fig. 6 will enable the reader to form some idea of their appearance thus grouped. Upon shaking some of the trees a cloud of butterflies flew off, and the flapping of their wings was distinctly audible. They hung in rows (often double) on the lower dead branches, and in bunches on the needles. I find by my note book that visiting the flock towards evening, it was receiving additions every moment. I caught a net full off a bunch of dead needles, and, walking away to some distance and letting them go, all but three returned to the flock. The question as to where they came from seems a very interesting one. I was told by Dr. A. W. Chapman that there was hardly Milkweed enough in all Florida to produce one of these flocks, which doubtless do not confine themselves to Apalachicola. During my visit I found two more flocks not far from the first, but neither of these was as large. I should mention that I often observed examples among them _in coitu_.

I have seen _archippus_ flocking at the Isles of Shoals, N. H., towards evening, in very much the same manner, having flown nine miles from the mainland. I have also seen clusters of _Vanessa J-album_ on tree trunks at dusk in New Hampshire, which seemed to present a parallel to the _archippus_ flocks, though of course on a very small scale.

R. THAXTER, Newtonville, Mass.

DEAR SIR,—

Last summer I discovered, unfortunately too late, that a large _Cossus_ was working in some large and very old Oak trees near here. I hope next June or July to find out what it is, as I shall construct nets to envelop the tree trunks of several of these so infected Oaks. None of my correspondents have been able to give me light on the subject; they think it possible that this is a new species, and urge close observation, advice which I hope to be able to follow.

I also purchased five large trees of a coarse variety of Poplar, known here as Cottonwood, that were to be cut down, as they had commenced dying, “caused by a _grub_ working in them.” I found it to be a _Cossus_ larva, but not as large as that working in the Oaks. Judging from a comparison of the empty pupæ cases found in them, which in these Poplars were very numerous, it is not the one described by Mr. Bailey in last January number as “_Cossus centerensis_” but seems more like _Xystus robiniæ_. I had three of the trees cut down in order to obtain the pupæ; judge of my surprise and disappointment when my man came in, telling me he could find _none_ but “lots of nasty _grubs_, of which he had given the near chickens probably a hundred or more,” not thinking them valuable to me. I sent him back with instructions to preserve every larva he could find, and I now have about fifty in every stage of development from the half-inch beet red, the nearly two-inch long pink, to the about two and a half-inch long greenish-white larva. I have some in the wood in their own burrows, and have put the rest in sawdust; and I have ordered him to cut me pieces of that wood, bore some holes in the ends and put in the other larvæ, and cork it in, leaving a few air-holes; with these I hope to complete my observations in a warm room. I did not know before that these hybernated in the larval state, much less did I think they would be found of different moults.

A. H. MUNDT, Fairbury, Ills.

MIGRATION OF BUTTERFLIES.

DEAR SIR,—

I have received the following notes on migration of certain butterflies from Prof. J. E. Willet, of Macon, Ga., dated 19th Jan’y, 1880.

W. H. EDWARDS, Coalburgh, W. Va.

“I saw Callidryas _Eubule_ passing here in great numbers during Sept., Oct. and Nov., 1878, from N. W. to S. E. About noon, when they were most abundant, there would be half a dozen visible all the time, crossing a 15-acre square of the city. They pursued an undeviating course, flying over and not around houses and other obstructions. They flew near the ground, and stopped occasionally to sip at conspicuous flowers. A geranium with scarlet flowers, and set in the open yard, attracted most that flew near it. Papers in Southern Georgia noticed the great numbers passing at different points; and a friend in Southern Alabama sent me specimens of the same, saying that they were subjects of speculation there. About March, 1879, there was a similar migration from S. E. to N. W., but in diminished numbers. I saw the fall migrations again Oct. and Nov., 1879, but in smaller numbers than in 1878. A lady of So. Georgia told me that her husband called her attention to the fall migration 26 years ago, and that she had observed it every year since. C. _Eubule_ is found here in small numbers at other seasons of the year.”

EARLY STAGES OF EPHEMERIDÆ.

The Rev. A. E. Eaton would like to communicate with anybody who would supply him with examples in fluid of nymphs of some of the American genera of Ephemeridæ. He would readily offer to pay a fair price for them and would defray their carriage to England. All that would be required would be five or six nearly full grown examples of one species per genus, put up in narrow tubes or narrow cylindrical bottles (one tube for each set), containing a solution of two parts of water to three of spirits about 60 over proof, well corked and with the cork tied down. Some tissue paper should be put into each tube with the specimens, to prevent the solid contents moving about within the tube when its position is shifted, care being taken not to compress the insects; and the tube should be filled up as nearly as possible with the fluid, to the exclusion of air bubbles. The tubes should be packed up with cotton, wool or tow, in a box, so that they shall be kept upright during the voyage; and this box should be packed into a stronger case with tow or hay or straw, and forwarded to Mr. Eaton by express, or through the agency of some bookseller, _not through the Post Office_. Address Rev. A. E. Eaton, 51 Park Road, Bromley, Kent, England.