THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 27 



infested cones in a tin box, and the beetles could seldom be found out of 

 their burrows. 



Detidroctonus simplex Lee. A very extensive attack of this beetle 

 was observed a few years ago in a grove of large larches about three miles 

 from the city. In August, when I first noted the sickly appearance of 

 the trees, I found that the bark, apparently all over the trees (the tops 

 could not be examined), was riddled and loosened, and thousands of these 

 beetles with larvae and pupae were observed. The trees were, of course, 

 killed, but whether the injury was due entirely to this species, or that the 

 trees had been weakened by other causes I cannot say. I could find, 

 however, no other injuries such as to account for the death of so many 

 large and, previously, apparently vigorous trees. 



VANESSA CALIFORNICA. 



BV W. G. WRIGHT, SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA. 



It is reported from various quarters that V. Californica has within a 

 year or two first been observed in British Columbia, where it is now 

 regarded as something new and strange. It has been suggested to me 

 that a few facts about it, as to California and Oregon, would be of 

 interest. 



I have observed it in great numbers from near the Canada line in 

 Washington and Idaho almost to Mexico. Doubtless it ranges down into 

 the Mexican State of Lower California, 200 miles or more, to the great 

 mountain of San Pedro Martier, in latitude 30"^ N., or the same as St. 

 Augustine, Florida. Its range, as to altitude varies according to latitude. 

 In the more northern places it flies from tide water to the tops of the 

 highest mountains, at 14,500 feet In the warmer regions of South 

 California it becomes " a stranded butterfly," (if, indeed, there be such a 

 thing,) and is seen only on high elevations and the tops of mountains, 

 and never at any season of the year in the valleys. 



In South California it is not seen lower down than 3,000 feet above 

 tide, and from that up to and above the tops of the highest mountains. 

 In that region, near the Mexican line, is a mountain 11,900 feet high, as 

 repeatedly indicated by my barometer, and on that high crest I have seen 

 vast numbers of this Vanessa flying over. One day in September, 1880, 

 I was there as guide with a party of strangers, and the butterflies were so 

 thick that even the tenderfeet noticed them. The insects came flying up 

 the western sloping side of the crest upon the wings of the trade wind 



