The combinations of characters by which the Nymph family is distinguished are these: Front legs dwarfed into lappets; scaly antennae; veins of fore wings not swollen at base; wings of normal shape, not much longer than wide. Larvae cylindrical, but varying greatly in form, color, and skin coverings. Chrysalids angular in most species, in others rounded. The stories of the lives of the many members of this family vary considerably, as one would expect from their variety and numbers. We may take, however, the life of the familiar Antiopa or Mourning Cloak as typical of the group. Briefly summarized, its story may thus be told: During sunny days in spring one may often see a beautiful purple-back butterfly, having a cream-colored border along the outer margin of its wings, flying leisurely about, in the vicinity of woods and in the open fields. This insect is called the Antiopa or Mourning Cloak; it is represented natural size in plate opposite page 145. It has passed the winter in this adult condition, having found shelter in some retreat where it is not directly exposed to the storm and stress of the weather. When the leaves of the elm, willow, and poplar trees are nearly expanded, these butterflies deposit their eggs upon the twigs. These eggs are laid in clusters encircling the twigs, there being twenty or more in each cluster. In the act of oviposition, the butterfly keeps her wings spread out, moving the body and abdomen about as the placing of the eggs necessitates. About two weeks after the clusters of eggs are thus laid upon the twigs of the food plant, they hatch into small blackish caterpillars, each emerging from the egg shell through a small hole that it eats out of the upper surface. They thus enter upon the second stage in their life-history--the larva or caterpillar stage. As soon as hatched, they crawl to the nearest leaf upon which they range themselves side by side, with their heads toward the margin of the leaf. They feed in this position, nibbling at the green surface of the leaf-blade and leaving the network of veins untouched. [Illustration: _See page 76_ THE ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL Summer form: upper surface, above; under surface, below] [Illustration: _From a drawing by Mary E. Walker_ _See Page 101_ THE CLOUDED SULPHUR BUTTERFLY Caterpillar and butterfly on red clover plant. (Reduced)] [Illustration: _From a drawing by Mary E. Walker_ _See page 76_ ZEBRA SWALLOWTAILS Visiting blossoming branches of the pawpaw tree. (Reduced)] [Illustration: _See pages 97-115_ SOME OF THE TRIBE OF YELLOWS upper surfaces at left; under surfaces at right (1) The Black-bordered Yellow--male; (2) the Clouded Sulphur--male; (3) the Orange Sulphur--female; (4) the Dog's-head--male]