The butterfly book : a popular guide to a knowledge of the butterflies of North America

Front matter

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Preface

“* some time or other in the life of every healthy young person there appears to be developed what has been styled “the collecting mania.” Whether this tendency is due to the natural acquisitiveness of the human race, to an innate appreciation of the beautiful and the curious, or to the development of an instinct such as is possessed by the bower-bird, the magpie, and the crow, which have the curious habit of gathering together and storing away trifles which are bright and attractive to the eye, I leave to students of the mind to decide. The fact is patent that there is no village without its youthful enthusiast whose collection of postage-stamps is dear to his heart, and no town in which there are not amateur geologists, archaeologists, botanists, and zoologists, who are eagerly bent upon the formation of collections of such objects as possess an attraction for them.

One of the commonest pursuits of boyhood is the formation of a collection of insects. The career of almost every naturalist of renown has been marked in its early stages by a propensity to collect these lower, yet most interesting and instructive, forms of animal life. Among the insects, because of their beauty, butterflies have always held a foremost place in the regard of the amateur collector. For the lack, however, of suitable instruction in the art of preserving specimens, and, above all, by reason of the almost entire lack of a convenient and well-illustrated manual, enabling the collector to identify, name, and properly classify the collections which he is making, much of the labor expended in this direction in the United States and Canada fails to accomplish more than the furnishing of temporary recreation. It is otherwise in Europe. Manuals, comprehensive in scope, and richly adorned with illustrations of the

Preface leading insect forms of Great Britain and the Continent, have been produced in great numbers in recent years in England, France, and Germany. The result is that the youthful collector enters the field in those countries in the possession of a vast advantage over his less fortunate American fellow. It is to meet this want on this side of the Atlantic that this volume has been written. Its aim is to guide the amateur collector in right paths and to prepare him by the intelligent accomplishment of his labors for the enjoyment of still wider and more difficult researches in this and allied fields of human knowledge. The work is confined to the fauna of the continent of North America north of the Rio Grande of Texas. It is essentially popular in its character. Those who seek a more technical treatment must resort to the writings of others.

If I shall succeed in this book in creating a more wide-spread interest in the world of insect life and thereby diverting attention in a measure from the persecuted birds, which I love, but which are in many species threatened with extinction by the too eager attentions which they are receiving from young naturalists, who are going forth in increased numbers with shot-gun in hand, 1 think I shall render a good service to the country.

I flatter myself that I have possessed peculiar facilities for the successful accomplishment of the undertaking I have proposed to myself, because of the possession of what is admitted to be undoubtedly the largest and most perfect collection of the butterflies of North America in existence, containing the types of W. H. Edwards, and many of those of other authors. I have also enjoyed access to all the other great collections of this country and Europe, and have had at my elbow the entire literature relating to the subject.

The successful development in recent months of the process of reproducing in colors photographic representations of objects has been to a certain degree the argument for the publication of this book at the present time. A few years ago the preparation of such a work as this at the low price at which it is sold would have been an utter impossibility. “The Butterflies of North America,” by W. H. Edwards, published in three volumes, is sold at one hundred and fifty dollars, and, as I know, is sold even at this price below the cost of manufacture. “The Butterflies of New England,” by Dr. S. H. Scudder, in three volumes, is sold at seventy-five dollars, and likewise represents at this price only

VI

Preface a partial return to the learned author for the money, labor, and time expended upon it. The present volume, while not pretending to vie in any respect with the magnificence of the illustrations contained in these beautiful and costly works, nevertheless presents in recognizable form almost every species figured in them, and in addition a multitude of others, many of which have never before been delineated. So far as possible I have employed, in making the illustrations, tbe original types from which the author of the species drew his descriptions. This fact will no doubt add greatly to the value of the work, as it will not only serve as a popular guide, but have utility also for the scientific student.

1 am under obligations to numerous friends and correspondents who have aided me, and take the present opportunity to extend to them all my hearty thanks for the generous manner in which they have assisted me in my pleasant task. 1 should fail, however, to follow the instincts of a grateful heart did I not render an especial acknowledgment to Mr. W, H. Edwards, of Coalburg, West Virginia, and Dr. Samuel H. Scudder, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Justly esteemed as the two foremost lepidopterists of America, it is my honor to claim them as personal friends, whose kindness has much aided me in this labor of scientific love which 1 have undertaken. For the kind permission given me by Dr. Scudder to use various illustrations contained in the “Butterflies of New England” and other works, 1 am profoundly grateful.

1 am under obligations to Messrs. Charles Scribner’s Sons for permission to use the cuts numbered 46-49, 51-56, 59, 61, 62, and 73, which are taken from the work entitled “ Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting,” by W. T. Hornaday, and to the authorities of the United States National Museum and the heirs of the late Professor C. V. Riley for other illustrations.

Should this book find the favor which 1 have reason to think it deserves, 1 shall endeavor shortly to follow it by the preparation of a similar work upon the moths of the United States and Canada.

Office of the Chancellor,

Western University of Pennsylvania, vii

W. J H

Introduction

CHAP. PAGE

I. The Life-History and Anatomy of Butterflies . . 3-25

The Eggs of Butterflies. Caterpillars: Structure, Form, Color, etc.; Moults; Food of Caterpillars; Duration of Larval State; Transformation.

The Pupa, or Chrysalis: The Form of Chrysalids; Duration of Pupal Life; The Transformation from the Chrysalis to the Imago. Anatomy of Butterflies: The Head; The Thorax; The Abdomen; The Legs;

The Wings; Internal Organs; Polymorphism and Dimorphism; Albinism and Melanism; Monstrosities; Mimicry. The Distribution of Butterflies.

II. The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Speci-

Collecting Apparatus : Nets; Collecting-Jars; Field-Boxes; The Use of the Net; Baits; Beating. The Breeding of Specimens : How to Get the Eggs of Butterflies; Breeding-Cages; How to Find Caterpillars; Hibernating Caterpillars. The Preservation of Specimens : Papering Specimens; Mounting Butterflies; Relaxing Specimens; The Preparation and Preservation of Butterfly Eggs; The Preservation of Chrysalids; The Preservation of Caterpillars. The Preservation and Arrangement of Collections : Boxes; Cabinets and Drawers; Labeling; Arrangement of Specimens; Insect Pests; Greasy Specimens; Mould; Repairing Specimens; Packing and Forwarding Specimens;

Pins; The Forceps.

III. The Classification of Butterflies 58-68

The Place of Butterflies in the Animal Kingdom; The Principles of Scientific Arrangement; The Species; The Genus; The Family, etc.; Scientific Names; Synonyms; Popular Names.

IV. Books about North American Butterflies . . . 69-74

Early Writers; Later Writers; Periodicals.

ix

Table of Contents

THE BOOK

PAGE

The Butterflies of North America North of Mexico.

Family 1. Nympbalidce, the Brush-footed Butterflies . . 77

Subfamily Euplaeince, the Milkweed Butterflies ... 80

Subfamily Itbomiince, the Long-winged Butterflies . . 85

Subfamily Heliconiince, the Heliconians 91

Subfamily Nympbalince, the Nymphs 93

Subfamily Satyrince, the Satyrs, Meadow-browns, and

Arctics 197

Subfamily Libytheince, the Snout-butterflies .... 226

Family II. Lemoniidce 228

Subfamily Erycinince, the Metal-marks 228

Family 111. Lyccenidce 236

Subfamily Lyccenince, the Hair-streaks, the Blues, and the Coppers 236

Family IV. Papilionidce, the Swallowtails and Allies . . 272

Subfamily Pierince, the Whites, the Sulphurs, the

Orange-tips 272

Subfamily Papilionince, the Parnassians and Swallowtails 304

Family V. Hesperiidce, the Skippers . 318

Subfamily Pyrrhopygince 319

Subfamily Hesperiince , the Hesperids 320

Subfamily Pampbilince 339

Subfamily Megatbyviince, genus Megatbymus .... 367

DIGRESSIONS AND QUOTATIONS

PAGE

Immortality (Sigourney) 57

Hugo’s “Flower to Butterfly” (Translated by Eugene Field) 74

Superstitions (Frank Cowan) 90

Luther’s Saddest Experience (Yale Literary Magazine, 1852) 100 A Race after a Butterfly 127 x

Table of Contents

PAGE

Suspicious Conduct 136

Collecting in Japan 149

Widely Distributed Butterflies 17 1

The Butterflies’ Fad (Ella Wheeler Wilcox) 186

Fossil Insects 195

In the Face of the Cold 224

Uncle Jotham’s Boarder (Annie Trumbull Slosson) . . . 233

Mimicry 235

The Utility of Entomology 236

Size 271

Instinct 280

Red Rain (Frank Cowan) 299

For a Design of a Butterfly Resting on a Skull (Mrs.

Fiemans) 303

The Caterpillar and the Ant (Allan Ramsay) 316

Collections and Collectors 337

Exchanges ..... 344

X!

FIG. PAGE

1. Egg of Basilarchia disippus, magnified 3

2. Egg of Basilarchia disippus, natural size . . . „ . 3

3. Egg of Papilio turnus, enlarged 4

4. Egg of Anosia plexippus, magnified 4

5. Egg of Anosia plexippus, natural size 4

6. Egg of Anthocharis genutia, magnified 4

7. Egg of Lycaena pseudargiolus, magnified 4

8. Egg of Melitsea phaeton, magnified 4

9. Micropyle of egg of Pieris oleracea, magnified ... 5

10. Eggs of Grapta comma, magnified 5

11. Eggs of Vanessa antiopa, magnified 5

12. Caterpillar of Papilio philenor 6

13. Head of caterpillar of Papilio asterias, magnified ... 6

14. Head of caterpillar of Anosia plexippus, magnified . . 6

15. Head of caterpillar of Anosia plexippus, side view,

enlarged 7

1 6. Caterpillar of Anosia plexippus, natural size .... 7

17. Fore leg of caterpillar of Vanessa antiopa, enlarged . . 7

18. Anterior segments of caterpillar of A. plexippus . . 7

19. Proleg of caterpillar of Vanessa antiopa, enlarged . . 7

20. Caterpillar of Basilarchia disippus 8

21. Early stages of goat weed butterfly 9

22. Head of caterpillar of Papilio troilus 9

23. Caterpillar of milkweed butterfly changing into

chrysalis 1 1

24. Chrysalis of milkweed butterfly 12

25. Chrysalis of Papilio philenor 12

26. Caterpillar and chrysalis of Pieris protodice .... 12

27. Chrysalis of Pieris oleracea 13

xiii

FIG. PAGE

28. Butterfly emerging from chrysalis 13

29. Head of milkweed butterfly, showing parts .... 14

30. Cross-section of sucking-tube of butterfly .... 15

31. Longitudinal section of the head of the milkweed

butterfly 15

32. Interior structure of head of milkweed butterfly ... 16

33. Labial palpus of butterfly 16

34. Legs of butterfly 17

35. Parts of leg of butterfly 17

36. Scales on wing of butterfly 18

37. Androconia from wing of butterfly 18

38. Outline of wing of butterfly 20

39. Arrangement of scales on the wing of a butterfly . . 20

40. Figure of wing, showing names of veins . . . . 21

41. Internal anatomy of caterpillar of milkweed butterfly . 22

42. Internal anatomy of milkweed butterfly 23

43. Plan for folding net-ring . 27

44. Insect-net 27

45. Plan for making a cheap net 27

46. Cyanide-jar 29

47. Paper cover for cyanide . 29

48. Method of pinching a butterfly 30

49. Cheap form of breeding-cage 35

50. Breeding-cage 36

51. Butterfly in envelope 38

52. Method of making envelopes 38

53. Setting-board 39

54. Setting-block 39

55. Butterfly on setting-block 39

56. Setting-needle 40

57. Setting-board with moth upon it 40

58. Butterfly pinned on setting-board 41

59. Drying-box 41

60. Drying-box 42

61. Apparatus for inflating larvse 45

62. Tip of inflating-tube 46

63. Drying-oven 46

64. Drying-oven 47

63. Detail drawing of book-box 48

66. Detail drawing of box 48

xiv

FIG. ' PAGE

67. Detail drawing of box 49

68. Insect-box 49

69. Detail drawing of drawer for cabinet 51

70. Detail drawing for paper bottom of box to take place

of cork 52

71. Manner of arranging specimens in cabinet or box . 52

72. Naphthaline cone 53

73. Butterflies packed for shipment 55

74. Forceps 56

75. Forceps 57

76. Antennae of butterfly 61

77. Antennae of moths 62

78. Neuration of genus Anosia 81

79. Swarm of milkweed butterflies, photographed at night 83

80. Neuration of genus Mechanics 86

81. Neuration of genus Ceratinia 88

82. Neuratron of genus Dircenna 89

83. Fore leg of female Dircenna klugi 89

84. Neuration of genus Heliconius 91

8s. Young caterpillar of Vanessa antiopa 94

86. Neuration of genus Colaenis 95

87. Neuration of genus Dione 96

88. Neuration of genus Euptoieta 98

89. Neuration of genus Argynnis 101

90. Neuration of genus Brenthis 129

91. Neuration of genus Melitaea 138

92. Neuration of genus Phyciodes 1 3 1

93. Neuration of genus Eresia 157

94. Neuration of genus Synchloe 159

95. Neuration of genus Grapta 163

96. Neuration of genus Vanessa 167

97. Neuration of genus Pyrameis 170

98. Neuration of genus Junonia 172

99. Neuration of genus Anartia 174

100. Neuration of genus Hypanartia . 17s

1 o 1 . Neuration of genus Eumca 176

102. Neuration of genus Cystineura 177

103. Neuration of genus Callicore 178

104. Neuration of genus Timetes 179

105. Neuration of genus Hypolimnas 1 8 1

xv

PAGE

FIG.

106. Neuration of genus Basilarchia 182

107. Leaf cut away at end by the caterpillar of Basilarchia . 183

108. Hibernaculum of caterpillar of Basilarchia 183

109. Neuration of genus Adelpha 187

1 10. Neuration of genus Chlorippe 188

hi. Neuration of genus Pyrrhanaea 192

1 12. Neuration of genus Ageronia 193

1 13. Neuration of genus Victorina 195

1 14. Neuration of genus Debis 199

1 1 5. Neuration of genus Satyrodes 200

116. Neuration of genus Neonympha 201

117. Neuration of genus Coenonympha 205

1 1 8. Neuration of genus Erebia 208

1 19. Neuration of genus Geirocheilus . 21 1

120. Neuration of genus Neominois 212

121. Neuration of genus Satyrus 214

122. Neuration of genus CEneis 219

123. Caterpillars of CEneis macouni 221

124. Neuration of genus Libythea 226

125. Neuration of base of hind wing of genus Lemonias . . 228

126. Neuration of genus Lemonias 229

127. Neuration of genus Calephelis 232

128. Neuration of genus Eumaeus 237

129. Neuration of Thecla edwardsi 238

130. Neuration of Thecla melinus „ . 242

13 1. Neuration of Thecla damon 246

132. Neuration of Thecla niphon . 249

133. Neuration of Thecla titus . 250

134. Neuration of genus Feniseca 251

135. Neuration of genus Chrysophanus 252

136. Neuration of Lycaena pseudargiolus . 267

137. Neuration of Lycaena comyntas 268

138. Neuration of genus Dismorphia 273

139. Neuration of genus Neophasia 274

140. Neuration of genus Tachyris 276

14 1. Neuration of genus Pieris 277

142. Neuration of genus Nathalis 281

143. Neuration of genus Euchloe 282

144. Neuration of genus Catopsilia 286

145. Neuration of genus Kricogonia 287

xvi

PAGE

FIG.

146. Neuration of genus Meganostoma

147. Neuration of genus Colias .

148. Neuration of genus Terias . . .

149. Neuration of genus Parnassius An Astronomer’s Conception of an Entomologist

150. Head and antenna of genus Pyrrhopyge . . .

1 5 1. Neuration of genus Pyrrhopyge

172. Neuration of genus Eudamus

153. Antenna and neuration of genus Plestia . . . .

154. Neuration of genus Epargyreus

155. Neuration of genus Thorybes .......

156. Neuration of genus Achalarus

157. Antenna and neuration of genus Hesperia . . .

138. Neuration of genus Systasea

159. Neuration of genus Pholisora

160. Neuration of genus Thanaos .......

1 6 1 . Neuration of genus Amblyscirtes

162. Neuration of genus Pamphila .

163. Neuration of genus Oarisma

164. Neuration of genus Ancyloxypha

165. Neuration of genus Copaeodes ......

166. Neuration of genus Erynnis .......

167. Neuration of genus Thymelicus

168. Neuration of genus Atalopedes

169. Neuration of genus Polites

170. Neuration of genus Hylephila .......

1 7 1 . Neuration of genus Prenes

172. Neuration of genus Calpodes

173. Neuration of genus Lerodea

174. Neuration of genus Limochores ......

175. Neuration of genus Euphyes .......

176. Neuration of genus Oligoria .

177. Neuration of genus Poanes . .

178. Neuration of genus Phycanassa ......

179. Neuration of genus Atrytone

180. Neuration of genus Lerema

1 81. Megathymus yuccse, ?

182. Larva of Megathymus yuccae

183. Chrysalis of Megathymus yuccae

The Popular Conception of an Entomologist . .

xvii

289 295 303 317 319 319

330 332 340

362 362

LIST OF COLORED PLATES

Produced by the color-photographic process of the Chicago Colortype Company, 1205 Roscoe Street, Chicago, 111.

FACING

PAGE

I. Spring Butterflies Frontispiece

II. Caterpillars of Papilionidse and Hesperiidae . . . 6

III. Caterpillars of Nymphalidae 18

IV. Chrysalids in Color and in Outline — Nymphalidae 30

V. Chrysalids in Color and in Outline — Nymphalidae,

Lycaenidae, Pierinae 44

VI. Chrysalids in Color and in Outline — Papiloninae

and Hesperiidae 58

VII. Anosia and Basilarchia 80

VIII. Ithomiinae, Heliconius, Dione, Colaenis, and Eup-

toieta 88

IX. Argynnis 100

X. Argynnis 104

XI. Argynnis 108

XII. Argynnis 11 2

XIII. Argynnis 116

XIV. Argynnis 1 22

XV. Brenthis 130

XVI. Melitaea 138

XVII. Melitaea, Phyciodes, Eresia 152

XVIII. Argynnis, Brenthis, Melitaea, Phyciodes, Eresia,

Synchloe, Debis, Geirocheilus 1 s6

XIX. Grapta, Vanessa 164

XX. Grapta, Vanessa, Junonia, Anartia, Pyrameis . .168

XXI. Timetes, Hypolimnas, Eunica, Callicore . . . .178

XXII. Basilarchia, Adelpha 184

XXIII. Chlorippe 190

XXIV. Pyrrhanaea, Ageronia, Synchloe, Cystineura, Hy-

panartia, Victorina 196

six

List of Colored Plates facing

PAGE

XXV. Satyrodes, Coenonympha, Neonympha, Neomi-

nois, Erebia 204

XXVI. Satyrus 214

XXVII. CEneis 220

XXVIII. Libythea, Lemonias, Calephelis, Eumaeus, Chrys-

ophanus, Feniseca 228

XXIX. Chrysophanus, Thecla 236

XXX. Thecla, Lycaena 246

XXXI. Lycaena 256

XXXII. Lycaena, Thecla, Nathalis, Euchloe 266

XXXIII. Catopsilia, Pyrameis 272

XXXIV. Euchloe, Neophasia, Pieris, Kricogonia .... 280

XXXV. Tachyris, Pieris, Colias 288

XXXVI. Meganostoma, Colias 294

XXXVII. Terias, Dismorphia 298

XXXVIII. Papilio 302

XXXIX. Parnassius '. . 306

XL. Papilio 310

XLI. Papilio 314

XLII. Papilio 316

XLIII. Papilio, Colias, Pyrameis, Epargyreus .... 318

XLIV. Papilio 322

XLV. Papilio, Pholisora, Eudamus Achalarus, Pyrrho-

pyge, Plestia, Calpodes, Thanaos 330

XLVI. Hesperiidae 338

XLVII. Hesperiidae 350

XLVII1. Hesperiidae and Colias eurytheme 360 xx

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION