BUTTERFLIES UF MONTANA. 43 



Collecting Butterflies at High Altitudes in the Andes. 



While forming these collections I was led to remark the frequency 

 with which closely similar forms recurred at similar altitudes, upon 

 mountains often long distances apart. This was observed in regard to 

 things living in the soil, as well as in respect to winged insects of roving 

 habits. It was not unusual to see butterflies, at closely similar altitudes 

 upon widely separated mountains. This was the case with a Lycaena 

 that has not been described which was taken at 11-12,500 feet on 

 Pichincha and thirty-six miles away at 12,000 feet on Colocachi, and was 

 not seen elsewhere. But, for the most part, butterflies which were taken 

 at considerable elevations were also found on the connecting, lower 

 ground. Thus Pieris xanthodice, Lucas, though captured so high as 

 14,000 and 15,000 feet, was found everywhere in the intervening basins; 

 and as, even had this not been so, it would need little effort for them to 

 pass from one mountain to another, and further as they may sometimes 

 suffer involuntary transportation, no particular stress can be laid upon 

 such instances of occasional recurrence at similar elevations. 



One Butterfly, however, was exceptional in being found upon nearly 

 all the mountains visited, in numbers, and seemed to be established be- 

 tween the elevations 12,000 — 16,000 feet. This is described by Messrs. 

 Goodman & Salvin, at p. 107 of the Supplementary Appendix, as Colias 

 alticola. It was first obtained near Tortorillas, Chimboraza (13,000 feet), 

 and was seen in the Vallon de Carrel as high as 16,000 feet. When we 

 were camped upon Antisana it attracted attention by the great elevation 

 above the level of the sea at which it was flying (16,000 feet). It was 

 seen subquently upon all the mountains we visited (except Sara-urcu) 

 between the elevations of 12-15,000 feet, and was captured at 12,000 feet 

 on Pichincha, on 13,000 feet on Cayambe, and at 15,000 feet on the 

 western side of Chimborazo, and was never either taken or seen in the 

 basins between these mountains. 



Whymper in "Travels Amongst the Great Ancles of t"e Equator." 



