Part 35 (1/2)

SHAKESPEARE.

_b.u.t.terfly._--The antennae are short; the eyes of moderate size; the front full, protuberant; the palpi slender; the fore wings somewhat produced at the tip, with the outer margins rounded and the hind margins very slightly, if at all, sinuated. The nervules of the fore wings are slightly dilated toward the base; the hind wings are elongated, oval, with the outer margins evenly rounded. The color of these b.u.t.terflies is some shade of brown; the outer margin is generally lighter than the base of the wing, and is marked with black spots, sometimes pupiled with white. The wings are generally marbled and mottled on the underside, and sometimes crossed on the middle of the hind wings by a broad band of darker color. The fringes are brown, checkered with white.

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 122.--Neuration of the genus _OEneis_, enlarged.]

_Egg._--The egg is ovate-spherical, higher than broad, marked on the side from the apex to the base with raised sculptured ridges. These eggs are deposited, so far as we have been able to learn, on dried gra.s.s and the stems of plants in proximity to the growing plants upon which the young caterpillars are destined to feed.

_Caterpillar._--The head of the caterpillar when it emerges from the egg is somewhat larger than the rest of the body, but as it pa.s.ses successive moults and attains maturity the relative thickness of the body increases, and the adult larva tapers a little from about the middle in either direction. The larvae are pale green or brown, marked by darker stripes upon the back and on the sides, the markings on the sides being in most species more conspicuous than those on the back. The species all feed on gra.s.ses.

_Chrysalis._--The chrysalids are stout, very slightly angulated, and are formed, so far as we know, unattached, under stones and at the roots of gra.s.ses. When pupating, the caterpillar often makes for itself a slight depression or cell in the soil, in which a few threads of silk have been deposited, though not enough to justify us in calling the structure a coc.o.o.n.

This genus is composed of b.u.t.terflies which are mainly arctic in their habitat, or dwell upon the summits of lofty mountains, where the summer is but brief. Only a few species are found at comparatively low elevations, and these in British America, or the parts of the United States immediately contiguous to the Canadian line. The most widely known of all the species up to this time is the White Mountain b.u.t.terfly, _OEneis semidea_, Say, a colony of which has existed probably ever since the glacial period upon the loftiest summit of Mount Was.h.i.+ngton, in New Hamps.h.i.+re. A number of species are found in the region of the Rocky Mountains. One species, _OEneis jutta_, Hubner, occurs in Maine, Nova Scotia, and parts adjacent. There are in all about a score of species of this genus recognized by authors as occurring in our fauna. In spite of the fact that these insects are boreal or arctic in their habits, Mr. W.H. Edwards has with marvelous skill and patience succeeded in obtaining the eggs and rearing at his home in Coalburg, West Virginia, a number of species. We are indebted to him for more of our knowledge of the generic characteristics of these insects, in their early stages, than had been ascertained hitherto during a century of investigation. His work is one of the beautiful triumphs of that enduring zeal which is a supreme quality in the naturalist. In their early stages all of the species show a close likeness to one another.

(1) =OEneis gigas=, Butler, Plate XXVII, Fig. 1, ?; Fig. 2, ? (The Greater Arctic).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This, one of the largest species in the genus, occurs on Vancouver's Island. The b.u.t.terfly hides among the dark mosses and upon the trunks of prostrate trees. The males are vigilant and inquisitive, and dart out suddenly when alarmed, or attracted by pa.s.sing insects. The females have a slower and more leisurely flight and are more readily taken. Expanse, 2.00-2.25 inches.

_Early Stages._--Edwards has figured the egg and the caterpillar in its first three stages, but the remaining life-history of the species awaits investigation.

(2) =OEneis iduna=, Edwards, Plate XXVII, Fig. 4, ? (The Iduna b.u.t.terfly).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This insect, which even exceeds _OE. gigas_ in size, is found on the Coast Range in northern California. It is decidedly lighter on the outer third of the wings than the preceding species, the male being prevalently a pale yellowish-brown, with the basal and median areas of the fore wing dark brown. On the under side the wings are somewhat lighter than in the preceding species, and the transverse lines are more distinctly marked. Expanse, 2.00-2.30 inches.

+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVII | | | | 1. _OEneis gigas_, Butler, ?. | | 2. _OEneis gigas_, Butler, ?. | | 3. _OEneis macouni_, Edwards, ?. | | 4. _OEneis iduna_, Edwards, ?. | | 5. _OEneis jutta_, Hubner, ?. | | 6. _OEneis taygete_, Hubner, ?. | | 7. _OEneis brucei_, Edwards, ?. | | 8. _OEneis varuna_, Edwards, ?. | | 9. _OEneis ivallda_, Mead, ?. | | 10. _OEneis chryxus_, Dbl.-Hew., ?. | | 11. _OEneis semidea_, Say, ?. | | 12. _OEneis uhleri_, Reakirt, ?. | | | | [Ill.u.s.tration PLATE XXVII.] | +--------------------------------------------------------------+

_Early Stages._--These have been most beautifully delineated by Edwards in the third volume of ”The b.u.t.terflies of North America.”

(3) =OEneis macouni=, Edwards, Plate XXVII, Fig. 3, ? (Macoun's Arctic).

[Ill.u.s.tration FIG. 123.--Caterpillars of _OEneis macouni_ (Riley).]

_b.u.t.terfly._--This species is closely allied to the two foregoing, but may be distinguished by the broad median band of dark brown traversing the under side of the hind wings, as well as by other peculiarities of marking. It lacks the bar of raised scales which is found in the male s.e.x about the lower part of the cell of the fore wing in most of the species of the genus. It has been found thus far only on the north sh.o.r.e of Lake Superior and at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains in the territory of Alberta. Expanse, 2.00-2.25 inches.

_Early Stages._--For a knowledge of these in all their minute details the reader is again referred to the pages of the indefatigable Edwards.

(4) =OEneis chryxus=, Westwood, Plate XXVII, Fig. 10, ? (The Chryxus b.u.t.terfly).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This species is widely distributed, being found in Colorado, British Columbia, and the vicinity of Hudson Bay. It is distinguished from other species by the darker brown color, which covers the basal and median areas of both the fore and hind wings, leaving a broad band of lighter brown on the outer margin. On the under side the wings are beautifully mottled with white and dark brown. _OEneis calais_, Scudder, is probably only a form of _chryxus_, which is somewhat lighter in color on the base of the wings. Expanse, 1.60-1.75 inch.

_Early Stages._--The life-history is fully recorded in the pages of Edwards.

(5) =OEneis ivallda=, Mead, Plate XXVII, Fig. 9, ? (Mead's Arctic).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This species is easily distinguished from all others by the peculiar pale ashen-brown of the upper side of the wings. It is not a common species, and is apparently restricted to the mountains of Nevada, princ.i.p.ally about Lake Tahoe, though it probably occurs elsewhere. Expanse, 1.90-2.10 inches.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

(6) =OEneis varuna=, Edwards, Plate XXVII, Fig. 8, ? (The Varuna b.u.t.terfly).

_b.u.t.terfly._--This species is much smaller than any of those which have thus far been mentioned. It is found in the prairie lands of Montana, North Dakota, and the parts of Canada adjacent. It is not uncommon about Calgary. It is light in color on the upper side of the wings, and on the under side it is mottled with brown, strongly marked with blackish blotches or shades. Expanse, 1.50-1.60 inch.