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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
Experiments and observations during 1874–5, supplemented by comparison of a large suite of specimens, seemed to invalidate the specific separation of vernalis. Submitting the facts to Mr. W. H. Edwards, he confirmed my opinion, and in the recently issued “Catalogue of the Diurnal Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico,” he has placed “vernalis” as a variety of P. protodice.
* The favorable result of this experiment—say 67 butterflies from about 80 larvæ—as compared with the uniform extreme scarcity of protodice here in spring in state of nature, suggests that the species is imperfectly inured to our climate, and finds its proper winter conditions further south. Out of doors very few of the pupæ seem to escape our severe winters, The butterfly is extrenely rare in spring (May), becomes more frequent by July, common and abundant in succeeding months. I have reason to think neither larva nor imago hybernate in this locality.