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The Hoary Elfin (Incisalia irus In-ci-sa'li-a)

Incisalia irus (In-ci-sa'li-a i'rus) PLATE XXXV, FIG. 4, 5, 6 See the preceding description.

CATERPILLAR.-Slug-shaped; one-half an inch long; head very small; body downy, greenish above and reddish brown on the sides.

Food-plant. Wild plum.

The gray which gives this elfin its name is only seen on the outer half of the lower side of the hind wings, and often it is more lilac than gray; except for this it is as brown as the other elfins.

It is the laziest of all the hair-streaks and loves to loaf around shrubs in open places, and even haunts the roadsides. The caterpillar is a little rascal that burrows in and devours the fruit of the wild plum.

The species is distributed from the southern part of New England to Georgia and westward to Missouri.