Early Stages.—An epitome of all that is known is to be found in "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on young plums just after the leaves of the blossom have dropped away.
The species is rather rare, but has been found from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the latitude of New England.
(31) Thecla henrici, Grote and Robinson, Plate XXX, Fig. 21, ♁ (Henry's Hair-streak).
Butterfly.—Much like the preceding species on the upper side, but with the outer half of the wings broadly reddish-brown. The secondaries on the under side are broadly blackish-brown on the basal half, with the outer margin paler. The division between the dark and light shades is irregular and very sharply defined, often indicated by a more or less perfect irregularly curved median white line. Expanse, 1.00-1.10 inch.
Early Stages.—These have been described by Edwards in the "American Naturalist," vol. xvi, p. 123. The habits of the larva are identical with those of the preceding species.
It occurs from Maine to West Virginia, but is rare.
(32) Thecla eryphon, Boisduval, Plate XXX, Fig. 17, ♁, under side (Eryphon).
Butterfly.—Closely resembling the following species both on the upper and under side of the wings, but easily distinguished by the fact that, on the under side of the fore wings, the inner of the two dark bands on the outer third of the wing is not sharply angulated below the third median nervule, as in T. niphon, but is more even, and in general parallel with the submarginal line. Expanse, 1.15 inch.
Early Stages.—These have not been described.
Eryphon replaces the Eastern T. niphon on the Pacific coast.