136 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE WEST COAST 



b, Female, Southern California, June 17, 1903; 



Author. 



c, Female, underside, Ventura County, Cal, July, 



1894; Author. 



Callippe is the most tropical Argynnis that we have ; it flies 

 further south than any other, and is not found at the north at all ; 

 I have never seen it north of the locality noted above, Ventura 

 County. It is a plains species, and never can be found far up on 

 the hills and mountains, but in the little, dry, hot, valleys, it lives 

 and seems to like the torrid temperature of a hot June day. Its 

 life as a butterfly is very short, the shortest of any Argynnid that 

 I know of, being only a few days in length. 



128. Argynnis Nevadensis. 

 Plate XV : Figures 128, b, c. 



Fig. 128, Male, Truckee, Cal., July, 1891 ; Author. 



b. Female, Truckee. Cal., July, 1891 ; Author. 



c. Female, underside. Truckee, Cal., July, 1891 : 



Author. 

 Nevadensis is extremely common, it flies along the foothills of 

 the Sierra Nevadas in countless numbers, in Eastern California 

 and Nevada. The key-note of this species is the green underside 

 of hind wing, it being the greenest of the three species which show 

 green about the silver spots beneath, these three being Coronis, 

 Nevadensis, and Edwardsi. In this species the green is seemingly 

 washed on the whole wing after the other colors are in place. 



129. Argynnis Edwardsi. 

 Plate XV ; Figures 129, b. 



Fig. 129, Female, Central Montana, July, 1890: Author. 

 b. Female, underside. Sierra Nevadas, 7,500 feet 

 altitude ; Author. 

 Edwardsi is the grandest Argynnid that flies on the mountains 

 of the West Coast. It is a true mountain butterfly, and is not ever 

 seen on the lowlands or in the valleys. As you may guess from 

 the great broad wings, it flies with the most rapid flight, and it 

 is also very scarce, and apparently never alights, so it is evident 

 that it is not easily captured. This is the third species that shows 

 green on hind wing beneath. It is not unconmion to see it fly- 

 ing over the snow-banks that in July remain yet unmelted about 

 the alpine peaks where it lives. 



