146 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE WEST COAST 



butterfly alone, but other species, as closely allied as these two, ap- 

 parently, have the same peculiarity, and will not occupy adjoining 

 territory, but maintain a strip of neutral territory which neither 

 will inhabit. 



Genus MELIT^EA. 



This genus, like Anthocharis, is chiefly western ; only two 

 species are found in the Eastern States, while on the West Coast 

 very many different species are found, the mountains especially 

 being rich in the various forms. I have much pleasure in introduc- 

 ing to the world in this book several hitherto unknown and beau- 

 tiful species of Melitsea, some of them, in fact most of them, hav- 

 ing lain dormant in my cabinet for many years, awaiting this 

 opportunity. 



The genus characters are similar to those of Argynnis. 



The sex-marks of all the Melitaeas are : The male has a circular 

 hairy brush at the tip of the abdomen ; the female lacks the brush, 

 the abdomen runs to a point, and has a sort of step or notch on the 

 underside, which, in the larger kinds is quite marked. 



Most or all of the Melitaeas lay their eggs in masses on the plant, 

 and in the early stages the larvae are gregarious, later separating. 



The food-plants are chiefly those of the scrophularia family, the 

 pentstemons being perhaps the one plant especially favored by 

 them, but many other plants will be eaten by the larvae before they 

 will starve. 



153. Melitasa Cooperi. Not elsewhere illustrated. 

 Plate XVHI; Figures 153, b, c. 

 Fig- 153' ^lale, Spokane, Wash., May 16, 1891 ; Author. 



b, Female, Northern California, June, 1892 : Author. 



c, Male, underside; from O. T. Baron, 1887 (?). 

 Size, 1.7 inches; brown-black on upper side, the light spots be- 

 ing light buff. There is a marginal row of red lunules around 

 both wings, on hind wings sometimes obsolescent. The key to the 

 species is the single row of light spots sub-marginal on hind 

 wing, the second or inner row of light spots being absent. It is 

 said that the types were taken on Mt. Hood, but when I was there 

 I did not see the species, although I looked for it, hoping to set- 

 tle a doubt. 



