Early Stages.—Unknown.
Proterpia is found in Texas, Arizona, and Mexico.
(3) Terias nicippe, Cramer, Plate XXXVII, Fig. 3, ♂; Fig. 4, ♁; Fig. 5, var. flava, ♂; Fig. 6, ♁, under side; Plate II, Fig. 6, larva; Plate V, Figs. 51, 52, chrysalis (Nicippe).
Butterfly.—The plate gives so full a presentation of this common species as to make a lengthy description unnecessary. It is subject to considerable variation. I have specimens of many varying shades of orange and yellow, and a few albino females. The orange form depicted in Plate XXXVII, Figs. 3 and 4, is typical. The form flava is not uncommon. Expanse, 1.50-2.00 inches.
Early Stages.—These are not as well known as they should be in view of the excessive abundance of the insect in long-settled parts of the country. The caterpillar feeds upon Cassia in preference to all other plants, but will eat other leguminosæ.
Nicippe is very rare in New England, but is common south of latitude 40° as far as the Rocky Mountains, and ranges over Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala, into Venezuela and even Brazil. It fairly swarms at times in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and southern Indiana and Illinois. I have encountered clouds of it on the wing near Jeffersonville, Indiana, and thence north along the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad as far as Seymour. It is not common in western Pennsylvania, but in former years was taken rather frequently about Pittsburgh.
(4) Terias mexicana, Plate XXXVII, Fig. 7, ♂; Fig. 8, ♁, under side (The Mexican Yellow).
Butterfly.—Easily distinguished from all other species in our fauna by the pointed hind wings, margined on the outer border with black, and by the heavy black border of the fore wings, deeply excised inwardly, recalling the fore wing of the species of the genus Meganostoma. Expanse, ♂, 1.75 inch; ♁, 1.85 inch.
Early Stages.—We do not, as yet, know much about these.
T. mexicana is very common in Arizona, and occurs also in Texas. It is abundant in Mexico.