Part 34 (1/2)

_Chrysalis._--Shaped very much as in the genus _Debis_, from which it is hardly distinguishable. Generally green in color.

This genus includes numerous species which are more or less subject to varietal modifications. In the following pages I have treated as species a number of forms which by some writers are reckoned as mere varieties.

Whether the view of those who regard these forms in the light of varieties is correct is not perfectly plain to me, and we cannot be sure until more extensive experiments in breeding have been carried out.

+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVI | | | | 1. _Satyrus alope_, Fabricius, ?. | | 2. _Satyrus alope_, Fabricius, ?. | | 3. _Satyrus nephele_, Kirby, ?. | | 4. _Satyrus nephele_, Kirby, ?, | | _under side_. | | 5. _Satyrus ariane_, Boisduval, ?. | | 6. _Satyrus ariane_, Boisduval, ?, | | _under side_. | | 7. _Satyrus oetus_, Boisduval, ?. | | 8. _Satyrus oetus_, Boisduval, ?, | | _under side_. | | 9. _Satyrus olympus_, Edwards, ?. | | 10. _Satyrus olympus_, Edwards, ?, | | _under side_. | | 11. _Satyrus charon_, Edwards, ?. | | 12. _Satyrus charon_, Edwards, ?. | | 13. _Satyrus meadi_, Edwards, ?. | | 14. _Satyrus meadi_, Edwards, ?, | | _under side_. | | 15. _Satyrus baroni_, Edwards, ?. | | 16. _Satyrus baroni_, Edwards, ?, | | _under side_. | | 17. _Satyrus gabbi_, Edwards, ?, | | _under side_. | | 18. _Satyrus pegala_, Fabricius, ?, | | _under side_. | | 19. _Satyrus paulus_, Edwards, ?, | | _under side_. | | 20. _Satyrus sthenele_, Boisduval, ?, | | _under side_. | || | [Ill.u.s.tration PLATE XXVI.] | +--------------------------------------------------------------+

(1) =Satyrus pegala=, Fabricius, Plate XXVI, Fig. 18, ?, _under side_ (The Southern Wood-nymph).

_b.u.t.terfly._--The largest species of the genus in our fauna, easily recognized by the broad yellow submarginal band on the primaries, marked with a single eye-spot in the male and two eye-spots in the female. The plate gives a correct idea of the under side of the wings. Expanse, 2.75 inches.

_Early Stages._--These have only been partially ascertained. The caterpillar, like all others of the genus, feeds on gra.s.ses.

This insect is found in the Gulf States and as far north as New Jersey, and is probably only a large Southern form of the next species.

(2) =Satyrus alope=, Fabricius, Plate XXVI, Fig. 1, ?; Fig. 2, ?; Plate III, Fig. 18, _larva_ (The Common Wood-nymph).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Closely resembling the preceding species, but only two thirds of its size. The figures in our plate give a correct idea of its appearance. The number of the ocelli is not constant, and occasionally specimens occur in which they are almost wanting. Several varietal forms have been described: _S. maritima_, from Long Island and Martha's Vineyard, in which the wings are smaller, the band inclined to orange-yellow, and the upper side of the wings is darker than in the typical form; and _S. texana_, from the extreme South, in which the ground-color of the wings is paler brown, the yellow band ochreous, and the spots on the under side of the hind wings larger than in the other forms.

(_a_) =Satyrus alope=, form =nephele=, Kirby, Plate XXVI, Fig. 3, ?; Fig. 4, ?, _under side_; Plate IV, Figs. 7, 8, _chrysalis_ (The Clouded Wood-nymph).

This varietal form of _S. alope_, long held to be a species, but now known to be a dimorphic variety, is characterized by the partial or entire suppression of the yellow band on the primaries and the tendency of the eye-spots to become obsolete. It is the Northern form of the species, and is found in Canada, New England, and on the continent generally, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, north of the lat.i.tude of central New York and southward on the mountain ma.s.ses of the Appalachian ranges.

(_b_) =Satyrus alope=, form =olympus=, Edwards, Plate XXVI, Fig. 9, ?; Fig. 10, ?, _under side_ (Olympus).

This form of _S. alope_ is common in the region west of the Mississippi.

The males are a trifle darker and the females a shade paler than in the form _nephele_, which they closely approximate, and from which it would almost be impossible to separate them without a knowledge of the country whence they come.

(_c_) =Satyrus alope=, form =ariane=, Boisduval, Plate XXVI, Fig. 5, ?; Fig. 6, ?, _under side_ (Ariane).

In _ariane_ we have a decidedly dwarfed form, in which the males and the females are quite dark. The ocelli, though small, are persistent, well defined, rarely showing a tendency to disappear completely. This form is found in British America, Oregon, and the northwestern portion of the United States.

(_d_) =Satyrus baroni=, Plate XXVI, Fig. 15, ?; Fig. 16, ?, _under side_ (Baron's Satyr).

This is another form, dark on the upper side and reddish below, in which the ocelli on the under side show a tendency to become obsolete, and in some specimens are wholly wanting.

There are other varietal forms, one of which, named _boopis_ by Behr, is commonly found on the Pacific coast in northern California, Oregon, and Was.h.i.+ngton, and the ocelli, while prominent on the upper side of the wings, are almost obsolete below.

_Early Stages._--The early stages of _S. alope_ (typical form) and its variety _nephele_ have been well described by several authors. The caterpillar feeds on gra.s.ses. There is, however, a fine field for the entomologist to work out the causes of the rather remarkable variation to which the species is subject.

(3) =Satyrus gabbi=, Edwards, Plate XXVI, Fig. 17, ?, _under side_ (Gabb's Satyr).

_b.u.t.terfly._--The male is dark reddish-brown, the female pale fawn. The ocelli in both s.e.xes are very well developed on both sides of the wings.

The a.n.a.l series on the secondaries consists of three spots, of which the one in the middle is always large. Expanse, 2.25 inches.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

Gabb's Satyr is found in Oregon and Utah.