Tryon Reakirt on Coloradian Butterflies. 139 



an all sufficient diagnostic. Mr. Edwards states that he obtained a 

 specimen from Mr. Drexler, said to have been taken near Washington, 

 D. C. : in this locality I do not believe, since it is strictly montane 

 in its habits, and the distance from its authenticated habitat is too 

 great to allow of the possibility of its being a straggler. 



Mr. Ridings informs me that he collected this species in August, 

 near Empire City, Colorado Territory, in the heart of the mountains 

 only. It would seem to be rare, since he captured but three specimens 

 (1 % , 2 9 ) which were taken early in the day, by the side of a small 

 stream. Flight, not quick, and a proneness to settle in the sunlight, 

 lazily opening and closing its wings, was very noticeable. 



It gives me much pleasure to dedicate this fine species to the dis- 

 tinguished American Entomologist, Wm. II. Edwards, Esq., to whom 

 I am iudebted for many favors. 



There is a peculiarity about the neuration of the wings of Argynnis, 

 of which I have never seen any mention, although it is eminently 

 characteristic, and forms a good method of discriminating between the 

 series. Mr. Doubleday remarks (Diurnal Lepidoptera I, p. 173.) — 

 •■The males of some species, as Argynnis Paphia, Arg. Adippe, and 

 Arg. Sagana, have the median nervules clothed with hairs and scales 

 of a peculiar form, resembling those of the patch on the posterior wings 

 of the males of Lachnoptera Iole." 



Strange, that he should have overlooked the fact that in the males 

 of Argynnis, the branches of the median vein of the fore wings are 

 always thrown oft", nearer the base than in the females. In some Eu- 

 ropean species, as Paphia, this is very prominent; in many of our in- 

 digenous forms, it is not so patent, but I have never seen the distinc- 

 tion entirely to fail. 



Argynnis Hesperis. Edwards. 



Proc. Ent. Soc. II, p. 502. (1864.) 



Hah. — Rocky Mts., Colorado Territory. (Coll. Tryon Reakirt.) 

 I have two examples which differ as much from the type, and also 

 from each other, as Atlantis from the allied species of Daphnis and 

 Aphrodite. Whether they should be regarded as distinctive or not, 

 can only be satisfactorily determined by an examination of a large se- 

 ries of specimens; in my own collection, I have, for the present con- 

 sidered them as varieties. 



Very common in the mountains, during July and August. 



Melitaea Palla. P>oisd. 



Behr, Proc. Calif. Acad. Nat. Sciences, p. 88. (1863.) 

 Hal.— Rocky Mts., Col. Terr.; California. (Coll. Tryon Reakirt.) 



