24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1885. 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW COLIAS FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, AND 

 OF AN EXAMPLE OF POLYMELIANISM IN SAMIA CECROPIA. 



BY HERMANN STRECKER. 



Colias elis. 



9 expands 1| inches ; with the exception of the primaries being 

 slightly more pointed apically , of the same shape as Hecla, of which 

 species it may probably be a form, as it resembles it closely in 

 many particulars. 



Head, collar and antennae dark pink or rosy; body black with 

 greenish hairs. 



Upper surface. Primaries bright orange, with blackish exterior 

 margin of moderate width until towards the costa where it widens 

 considerably ; this margin encloses a row of seven ovate lemon- 

 yellow spots or dashes which are rounded interiorly and some- 

 what pointed exteriorly ; the two nearest the costa are much the 

 smallest, the others are nearly uniform in size, though var}ing a 

 trifle from each other in shape. A black discal spot, small and 

 somewhat linear in one example, and nearly round and of fair 

 size in another. Costa and fringe deep pink. Secondaries are 

 orange, somewhat obscured with black atoms, a submarginal row 

 of yellow spots, not quite as conspicuous as those of primaries, 

 exterior to these at the apex and the apical half of costal and 

 exterior edge, the wing is blackish ; a good-sized deep orange or 

 red lead-colored discal spot, round in one example and in another 

 somewhat oblong, or rather the shape produced by a smaller round 

 spot being joined and partly merged into a larger one ; fringe 

 same color as on primaries. 



Under surface. Primaries orange on disk, with greenish 

 exterior border of same width as the blackish border of upper 

 surface ; also greenish along the costa ; edge of costa and fringe 

 deep pink. A black discal spot with pale centre. Secondaries 

 green, the inner two-thirds darker, leaving an exterior border 

 of the same color but a shade paler. Costa and fringe as in 

 primaries ; discal spot silvery white, ringed with deep pink. 



Albinous 9 form. Upper surface white of greenish yellow tinge, 

 the disk of primaries, especiall}' towards the inner margin faintly 

 suffused with a very pale ochraceous tint. On one example the 

 blackish border and the discal spots are about the same as in the 



