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The Carolinian Satyr (Cissia sosybius Cis'si-a)
Cissia sosybius (Cis'si-a so-syb'i-us) PLATE XXXI, FIG. 7 Upper surface of wings a rich dark brown, the outer margin marked with a black thread preceded by a more or less obscure narrow pallid stripe, more distinct on the hind wings than on the fore; both wings without eye-spots. Lower surface paler; the median area of each wing is enclosed between two transverse brown lines; the outer margin is brown, and there are two submarginal brown lines, the inner one wavy; the outer area of each wing with a row of more or less distinct eye-spots, five on the fore wing and six on the hind wing; these vary in distinctness; that in cell M₁ of the fore wing, and those in cells M₁, Cu, and the second anal cell of the hind wings are the more prominent. Expanse of wings one and one-fourth to one and one-half inches. 1 CATERPILLAR.- Body striped lengthwise, yellowish on the back and bluish green on the sides. The tubercles are pronged.
Food-plant. Grass.
The Carolina satyr sometimes has barely a suggestion of spots on the upper surface of its wings, which are usually dull mouse brown. The lower surface of the wings, however, shows a close resemblance to the little wood-satyr, although there is only one tiny eye-spot at the apex of the front wing; each hind wing has two good-sized ocelli widely separated and the hind one has a tiny fellow just at its inner side. These spots are dark brown with centers of mother-of-pearl, the beauty of which needs a lens for its revealing.
Between the spots on the hind wing may be seen just a trace of the red gold that is found in similar position on the little wood-satyr. The species is double-brooded; it is found from the southern part of the Middle States southward and in the Mississippi Valley.
O languorous lilac! still in time's despite I see thy plumy branches all alight With new-born butterflies, which loved to stay And bask and banquet in the temperate ray Of spring-time, ere the torrid heats should be.