Genus Thecla 
are crossed by white lines, much as in m-album. The anal angle 
is marked with black, followed outwardly by a broad patch of 
iridescent greenish-blue scales. Between the end of the sub¬ 
marginal vein and the first median nervule is a black spot sur¬ 
mounted with carmine, edged inwardly with black; three or four 
carmine crescents similarly edged, but rapidly diminishing in size, 
extend as a transverse submarginal band toward the costa. Ex¬ 
panse, 1.25 inch. 
Early Stages. — Unknown. 
Alcestis is found in Texas and Arizona. 
(10) Thecla melinus, Hubner, Plate XXIX, Fig. 31, S ; 
Plate XXXII, Fig. 20, $ ; Plate V, Fig. 39, chrysalis (The Com¬ 
mon Hair-streak). 
Butterfly .—Much confusion has arisen from the fact that this 
insect has received a number of names and has also been con¬ 
founded with others. Fig. 31 in Plate XXIX repre¬ 
sents the insect labeled humuli , Harris, in the Ed¬ 
wards collection; Fig. 20 in Plate XXXII represents 
the insect labeled melinus , Hubner. There is a very 
large series of both in the collection, but a minute 
comparison fails to reveal any specific difference. 
Humuli of Harris is the same as melinus of Hubner; 
and recent authors, I think, are right in sinking the 
name given by Harris as a synonym. This common 
little butterfly may easily be recognized by its plain 
slaty upper surface, adorned by a large black spot, 
crowned with crimson between the origin of the two 
tails of the secondaries. Expanse, 1.10-1.20 inch. 
Early Stages. — These are in part well known. The 
caterpillar feeds on the hop-vine. Melinus is found all over tem¬ 
perate North America, and ranges southward into Mexico and 
Central America at suitable elevations. 
(11) Thecla acadica, Edwards, Plate XXIX, Fig. 15, S’, 
Plate V, Fig. 35, chrysalis (The Acadian Hair-streak). 
Butterfly.— The male is pale slaty-gray above, with some ill- 
defined orange spots near the anal angle, the usual oval sex- 
mark on the fore wing. The female is like the male above; but 
the orange spots at the anal angle of the hind wings are broader, 
and in some specimens similar spots appear on the fore wings 
near the inner angle. On the under side in both sexes the 
242 
Fig„ 130.— 
Neuration of 
Thecla meli¬ 
nus. (After 
Scudder.) Typ¬ 
ical of subge¬ 
nus Uranotes. 
