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The White-M Hair-Streak (Eupsyche m-album Eu-psy'che)

Eupsyche m-album (Eu-psy'che m-al'bum) PLATE XXXIII, FIG. 5, 6 Both The upper surface of the disk of the wings is a rich, glossy, dark blue, with green reflections; a broad outer border and costal margin are black. The hind wings have each two tails, and a bright dark orange spot preceded by white at the anal angle. The under surface is brownish gray. wings are crossed by a common, narrow white stripe, which forms a large W or reversed M on the hind wings, whence the specific name of the insect. On the hind wings midway between the M-streak and the outer border there is another series of white bars, and an orange spot in cell Cu,. Expanse of wings one and one-third to one and onehalf inches. CATERPILLAR.-Length not quite three-fourths of an inch; head black; body downy, light yellowish green in color with a dull green stripe down the back and seven oblique stripes of the same color along the side.

Food-plants.-Oak and milk-vetch.

This is very much like the preceding species in the blue-green metallic colors of its wings above except that it has more of blue and less of green in the sheen; but as if to mark the species distinct beyond cavil, a white line runs across the lower side of the front and hind wings, making a distinct white M on the latter near the anal angle, and this plainly written initial is punctuated with a crimson period. While the white-m hairstreak occasionally is found as far north as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, it is essentially a species of the South and frequents the live-oak hummocks of that region. It is supposed to be triple-brooded.

I hold you at last in my hand, Exquisite child of the air; Can I ever understand How you grew to be so fair?