NO. 1488. BUTTERFLIES OF BRITISH AMERICA— GARY. 427 



deflected to the northward by the Nahanni Mountains, an eastern 

 spur of the Kockies, and a range of some 3,000 feet altitude closely 

 parallels the river on the west. Several mountain forms of l^utterflies 

 were taken in this vicinity, while on the plain between the river and 

 mountains, where the typical northern spruce forest and muskeg 

 conditions obtain, species of more general distribution were secured. 



Fort Norman^ Mackenzie. — On the Mackenzie River, near the mouth 

 of Bear River. Mr. Preble collected a few species here in June, 1904:. 



Fori Good ITope^ Mackenzie {latiUideGG'^ 15'). — On Mackenzie River. 

 Some very interesting species were obtained by Mr. Pre])le late in 

 June, 1901. A good locality for semi-Arctic forms. Hudsonian zone 

 conditions predominate. 



Fort Mcpherson, Mackenzie {latitude 67'^^ 20').— On Peel River, 30 

 miles above its confluence with the Mackenzie. In this region the 

 forest trees are very mucli dwarfed, and in places an approacli to Bar- 

 ren Ground conditions is found. The butterflies which Mr. Preble 

 obtained here early in July, 1904, were chiefl}" Arctic species and 

 highly interesting from a geographic point of view, since they serve 

 to till in the gap ))etween the Alaskan fauna and that of eastern Arctic 

 America. 



PREVIOUS WORK. 



Although a few l)utterflies had been brought l:)ack to England from 

 Boothia Felix by Sir John Ross, one of the earlier Arctic explorers, 

 the vast region of tundra and forest on the mainland to the west and 

 southwest, now known as Mackenzie and Athabaska districts, remained 

 practically iniexplored entomologicall}^ until 1825-26, when Franklin 

 made his second journey to the Arctic regions. On this expedition, as 

 on his first Arctic journey, 1819-1822, Franklin was accompanied I)}- 

 that most indefatigable naturalist. Dr. John Richardson, and valuable 

 collections in various dt^partments of natural history were secured. 

 These collections were elal)orated in the several volumes of Fauna 

 Boreali-Americana, the insects being treated l)v Rev. William Kirl)y 

 in the fourth volume, which appeared in 1837. " 



Ver}^ nearl}" a quarter of a century then elapsed l^efoi'e any more 

 entomological collecting was done in the Athabaska and Mackenzie 

 regions. In 1818-49 Sir John Richardson made his third journey to 

 the Arctic, this time accompanied by John Rae, and in search of his 

 former companion, Franklin. The route followed from Lake Winnipeg 

 was ])y way of tlie Saskatchewan River and Methye Portage to the 

 Athabaska River, thence downi the Athabaska, Slave, and Mackenzie 

 rivers to the Arctic coast. The winter was spent at Fort Confidence, on 

 Great Bear Lake, and the return journey in 1S49 made over nuich the 

 same route. A list of the entomological collections secured b}" Richard- 



« For full reference to j)iiblicationw see Bibliography, p. 456. 



