The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-16
DIR. HoFFmAN's BUTTERFLIES.
$50 American Species at the Museum of
Natural history.

Natural History.
The collection OF butterh les presented
to the American Museum of Natural His
tory by Dean Hoffman Of the General The
illogical Seminary is being put in place.
Tho North american butterflies are all
arranged. OF the $50 known species of
these $50 are represented in this collec-
ton. These occupy seven cases. Of each
species there are four specimens. each
mounted upon a plaster block, the male
and female, and the upper and under
side of each. Mr.. Buttenmuller, head
of this department, says there is no finer
collection of its kind. Certainly no collec-
ton Of any kind displays greater variety
of hue, moro exquisite texture or delicate
tracery, than do the costumes of these
sairy fairy" natives of our own land.
Many of these specimens were obtained
with difficulty, and are rare and of great
value
In the first case are the Papilios, or
swallowtails, SO called from their resem-
blance in form to a swallow upon the
wing. Among these is the bleak swallow
tail, which is marked with transverse
rows of yellow spots. Its paterpillow,
yellow, crossed with black transverse
bands, is the enemy of the parsley beds
Another conspicuous memb Der of this class
is the Papilio Ajax, or zebra swallowtail,
which has sea green wings crossed with
black bands, with red spots on the hind
wings. These come from the South. All
the caterpillars of this species are protect
ed by scent organ. When alarmed, from
narrow slit just back of the head a
fork. like prong extends, projecting a
nauseous odor, which effectually quells
the appetite Of the most voracious enemy.
In case No. are the white and yellow
butterflies and the Parnassians or noun
tain butterflies. Among these is the ia
miliar cabbage butterfly, or Pieris. the
caterpillar Of which lives upon the cab
bage. The Parnassians, or mountain
butterflies, are found only upon the
highest points of the Rocky and Sierra
Nevada mountains, to Alaska. Their
markings annd colorings are generally
protective. The wings, being in part
ienuded of scales, are transparent. and
the bright spots with which they are
deoked resemble those upon the rocks in
their high native haunts, and they are
thus rendered inconspicuous and safe
from ravenous butterfly hunters. The
orange-tipped or Euohoioe prima is found
only in the waste places of Arizona, and
to obtain these little creatures 1T was nec-
essary to make wearis0me trip across
a hot and arid plain. The lemon and
orange butteries, the Catopsiliae, vary in
color from sulphur yellow to deep orange,
an are found only in Mexico or near its
borders.
Gases Nos. and contain the different
species of Coials, the most prominent
among which are the yellow and orange
dog-head Colias, SO called from the re-
semblance in the markings of the fore
wing to q pug dogs head. These live
among the clover and allied plants. The
silver spots, or fritilary, are, on the
upper sides, a deep reddish orange color,
and the under side OF the hind wings a re
marked with silver spots The Diana,
among these, is conspicuous because of
the different colorings assumed by the
male and female. In the male the basal
half of the wings Is deer, smoky brown,
the outer edge being reddish brown,
while in the female the wings are jet
black. the forewings having blue patches
ana U16 uluu wings u low llgub Sp Gus.
Case No. shows different kinds of
comma butterflies, or Polygonias, SO
called from the odd shapes of the wings.
They are also known as the Silver G, from
peculiar mark which each wears.
These, too, are protected by their color,
which resembles the bark of the trees
among which they live. Some specimens
of this species in q neighboirng case, but
not of this collection, are mounted upon
bark and twigs, and illustrate how per-
feet is their concealment when motionless
even though in open view of the enemy.
| Case No. exhibits the wood nymphs or
satyrs. These, dressed in russets, dark
browns, some nearly black, are the
Quakers of the collection. They live
among the grasses, and their caterpillars
are characterized by a peculiar halting
gait. The theclas or hair streaks are so
called from peculiar tail-like appendage
to the hind wings, which resembles hair
In the seventh case are the small blue
butterflies, or Lyoaenae, and the shippers.
or Hesperians. Many of these come from
California. They are the earliest butter
flies on the wing, coming with the first Of
the pussy willows. The Lycaena exilis is