_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 Washington, 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.
(4) =Satyrus meadi=, Plate XXVI, Fig. 13, ?; Fig. 14, ?, _under side_ (Mead"s Satyr).
_b.u.t.terfly._--This well-marked species is comparatively small, and may easily be distinguished from all others by the bright red on the limbal area above and on the middle area of the primaries below. Expanse, 1.60-1.75 inch.
_Early Stages._--These have been described and figured by Edwards in "The b.u.t.terflies of North America," vol. iii. The caterpillar is green, marked by paler stripes and lozenge-shaped spots of pale green on the side. The chrysalis is pale green. The egg is pale saffron. The caterpillars feed on gra.s.s.
Mead"s Satyr ranges through Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Arizona.
(5) =Satyrus paulus=, Edwards, Plate XXVI, Fig. 19, ?, _under side_ (The Small Wood-nymph).
_b.u.t.terfly._--A little smaller than _S. nephele_, dark brown above in both s.e.xes, the fore wings always with two pupilate ocelli, one near the apex, the other near the inner angle, most conspicuously developed in the female. The secondaries have one or two spots of the same kind near the a.n.a.l angle. On the under side the wings are pale reddish-brown, abundantly marked by transverse striae. The primaries are marked with gray at the apex and on the outer margin, and have a submarginal and submedian transverse ferruginous line, between which the ocelli are located. The secondaries are crossed by a broad darker median band defined inwardly and outwardly by narrow dark lines. The outer third is pale gray, mottled with darker spots and lines, and traversed by a dark ferruginous submarginal line. Expanse, 1.75-2.00 inches.
_Early Stages._--Unknown.
_Paulus_ occurs in California and Nevada. It has been regarded as a variety of _sthenele_ by some writers; but I am convinced of its distinctness, though there is considerable resemblance.
(6) =Satyrus charon=, Edwards, Plate XXVI, Fig. 11, ?; Fig. 12, ? (The Dark Wood-nymph).
_b.u.t.terfly._--The male is dark in color; the female is paler. There are two eye-spots on the fore wings in the usual location, indistinct on the upper, distinct on the lower side of the wings. The under sides of the wings are variable. In the type they are dark; in other specimens they are paler. They may or may not have ocelli on the secondaries. The form with obsolescent ocelli has been named _silvestris_ by Edwards. Both the fore and hind wings are abundantly and evenly marked by little striae, and crossed on either side of the median area by obscure, irregular, transverse dark lines, either one or both of which may be wanting in some specimens. Expanse, 1.50-1.75 inch.
_Early Stages._--These have been described and beautifully figured by Edwards in the third volume of his great work, to which the reader may refer. The caterpillar is green, cylindrical, tapering before and behind, marked with longitudinal pale-yellow lines. The chrysalis is green or black, striped with narrow white lines. The egg is somewhat firkin-shaped, flat at the top and base, vertically ribbed, and honey-yellow. The larva feeds on gra.s.ses.
_Charon_ is found in the Northwest, ranging from British Columbia as far as New Mexico.
(7) =Satyrus oetus=, Boisduval, Plate XXVI, Fig. 7, ?; Fig. 8, ?, _under side_ (Boisduval"s Satyr).
_b.u.t.terfly._--Larger than _charon_, paler on the upper side, especially in the female s.e.x, in which the outer third of the primaries is reddish-fawn. On the under side the secondaries of the male are without ocelli, or at most faint traces of ocelli appear. In the female the ocelli near the a.n.a.l angle of the secondaries are usually well developed. Expanse, 1.60-2.00 inches.
_Early Stages._--These await description.
The species is found in northern California.
(8) =Satyrus sthenele=, Boisduval, Plate XXVI, Fig. 20, ?, _under side_ (The Least Wood-nymph).
_b.u.t.terfly._--Quite small, superficially resembling _charon_. The female is paler and the ocelli are larger and more distinct than in _charon_.
The distinguishing mark of this species is the irregular, dark, twice-strangulated band of the secondaries, bordered on both sides externally by whitish shades. This is shown in our figure. Expanse, 1.40-1.50 inch.
_Early Stages._--Unknown.
The species is Californian.
Genus OENEIS, Hubner
(=Chion.o.bas=, _Boisd._)
(The Arctics)
"To reside In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice."