Part 31 (1/2)

_Egg._--Globular, flattened at the base, marked with irregular polygonal cells.

_Caterpillar._--The head is large, rounded, the two halves produced conically and studded with little conical papillae. The last segment of the body is bifurcate.

_Chrysalis._--Relatively long, strongly produced at the vertex; elevated on the thorax into a blunt tubercular prominence; green in color.

This genus, which has by some writers been sunk into the genus _Euptychia_, Hubner, is quite extensive. Nearly two hundred species are included in _Euptychia_, which is enormously developed in the tropical regions of the New World. Seven species of _Neonympha_ are found within the region of which this book treats.

(1) =Neonympha gemma=, Hubner, Plate XXV, Fig. 2, ?, _under side_ (The Gemmed Brown).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Upon the upper side the wings are pale mouse-gray, with a couple of twinned black spots on the outer margin of the hind wings. On the under side the wings are reddish-gray, marked with irregular ferruginous lines. Near the outer margin of the hind wings is a row of silvered spots, the spots corresponding in location to the dark marginal spots being expanded into a violet patch marked in the middle by a twinned black spot centered with silver. Expanse, 1.25-1.35 inch.

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

The egg is somewhat globular, rather higher than wide, flattened at the base, and marked with numerous shallow reticulated depressions. The caterpillar of the spring brood is pale green, of the fall brood pale brown, marked respectively with numerous longitudinal stripes of darker green or brown. It has two long, elevated, horn-like projections upon the head, and on the a.n.a.l segment two similar projections pointing straight backward. The chrysalis is small, green, or brown, strongly bifid at the head. The caterpillar feeds on gra.s.ses.

The insect ranges from West Virginia to Mexico.

(2) =Neonympha henshawi=, Edwards, Plate XXV, Fig. 8, ? (Henshaw's Brown).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Much like _N. gemma_, but considerably larger and decidedly reddish upon the upper side of the wings. Expanse, 1.65 inch.

_Early Stages._--Mr. Edwards has figured the egg, which is different in shape from that of the preceding species, being broader than high, subglobular, flattened broadly at the base, green in color, and almost devoid of sculpturings upon its surface. Of the other stages we know nothing.

Henshaw's b.u.t.terfly ranges through southern Colorado into Mexico.

(3) =Neonympha phocion=, Fabricius, Plate XXV, Fig. 7, ?, _under side_; Plate III, Fig. 8, _larva_; Plate IV, Figs. 10 and 11 (The Georgian Satyr).

_b.u.t.terfly._--The upper side is immaculate gray; beneath pale, with two ferruginous transverse lines. Between these lines is a ferruginous line on each wing, rudely describing a circle. In the circle on the fore wing are three or four eye-spots with a blue pupil and a yellow iris; in the circle on the hind wing are six eye-spots which are oblong and have the pupil oval. Expanse, 1.25 inch.

_Early Stages._--These have been fully described, and are not unlike those of other species of the genus. The caterpillar feeds on gra.s.ses.

The insect ranges from New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico as far west as Texas.

(4) =Neonympha eurytus=, Fabricius, Plate XXV, Fig. 4, ?; Plate III, Figs. 3, 6, 10, 13, 14, _larva_; Plate IV, Fig. 28, _chrysalis_ (The Little Wood-satyr).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Easily distinguished from other species in our fauna by the presence of two more or less perfectly developed ocelli on the upper side of the fore wing and also of the hind wing. Expanse, 1.75 inch.

_Early Stages._--This is a rather common b.u.t.terfly, the larval stages of which have been fully described by various authors. The egg is even taller in proportion to its breadth than that of _N. gemma_, which it otherwise closely resembles in outline and sculpturing. The caterpillar is pale brown, conformed in general form to that of other species of the genus, but somewhat stouter. It feeds on gra.s.ses. The chrysalis is pale brown, mottled with darker brown.

The insect ranges through Canada and the United States to Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas.

(5) =Neonympha mitch.e.l.li=, French, Plate XXV, Fig. 6, ?, _under side_ (Mitch.e.l.l's Satyr).

_b.u.t.terfly._--Easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by the eye-spots on the under side of the wings, four on each of the primaries and six on each of the secondaries, arranged in a straight series on the outer third, well removed from the margin. These spots are black, ringed about with yellow and pupiled with blue.

_Early Stages._--Unknown.

The species is local, and thus far is recorded only from northern New Jersey, near Lake Hopatcong, and the State of Michigan. No doubt it occurs elsewhere, but has been overlooked by collectors.

(6) =Neonympha sosybius=, Fabricius, Plate XXV, Fig. 5, ?, _under side_ (The Carolinian Satyr).