Butterflies 211 



of Alaska, but it extends eastward as far as the Rocky Mountains. 

 The scientific name is Aglais californica. 



Following an old English custom the name Admiral is given 

 to certain large butterflies, in which the front wings are obliquely 

 crossed by a bright red or pure white band on a black ground. 

 In the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), which is really related to 

 the Painted Lady, this band is red, and there is a broad red band 

 bordering the hind wings. There are numerous white spots near 

 the tips of the front wings. This fine butterfly, the caterpillar 

 feeding principally on nettle, is very common in Europe, and not 

 rare in Colorado. I have seen it on the University of Colorado 

 campus. The Ro^ky Mountain White Admiral (Basilarchia 

 weidemeyeri of Edwards) is black and white, with very broad 

 white bands crossing both the wings. It is very common in our 

 mountain valleys; the caterpillar, which is not spiny, lives on 

 cottonwood. There is no close relationship with the Red Ad- 

 miral, but curiously enough, there is another Basilarchia (B. 

 archippus), called the Viceroy, which presents a totally different 

 appearance. The wings are rich red-brown, with a dark margin 

 on which are little white spots. One might take it for an under- 

 sized Milkweed Butterfly, but it differs conspicuously by having 

 a black line crossing the hind wings. This is regarded as a case 

 of "mimicry." The quite unrelated Milkweed Butterfly is dis- 

 tasteful to vertebrate enemies, and it is supposed that the Viceroy 

 gains some protection by resembling it. The Viceroy is not 

 common with us, but it has been taken at Boulder by Hite and at 

 Pueblo by Nash, and on the western slope at Newcastle by Robbins. 



An easily recognized genus of butterflies is Polygonia (also 

 called Grapta), the Angle-wings. The front wings have the 

 outer margin deeply scalloped, with prominent lobes or angles, 

 while the hind wings have short tails arising from the middle of 

 the margin. The general color of the upper surface is rich 

 ferruginous red with numerous black spots. On the under side 

 of the hind wings, in some species, is a silver C, whence the name 

 Comma-butterfly for the common English representative. When 

 the wings are closed, these butterflies can hardly be distinguished 

 from an old dry leaf. We have at least four species in Colorado; 

 they are all figured in Holland's Butterfly Book, Plate XIX, f . I , 

 2,7,8, 14, 1 5, and PI. XX, f. 1,2. 



