GENUS MELIT^A 151 



spots are pale, or yellowish-red, and Rubicunda is a deeper, redder 

 red. I have placed these allied species close together here for 

 convenience of comparison, as always, through the book, where- 

 ever possible. Editha is smaller in size, and all the spots on upper 

 side are relatively larger, so that Rubicunda has a darker appear- 

 ance. 



Editha ranges from Yosemite, north to the Oregon line, along 

 the eastern base of the Sierra Nevadas. I have it from Madeleine 

 Plains, in Northeastern California, taken by Mr. Stephens. 



162. Melitaea Rubicunda. 



Plate XVIII : Figures 162, b, c. 



Fig. 162, Male, Russian River Valley, Cal., June 10, 1894 ; 

 Author. 



b. Female, Russian River Valley, Cal., June 10, 



1894: Author. 



c. Female, underside, Russian River Vallev, Cal., 



June 10, 1894; Author. 

 The most common Melitaea of Northern California, flying in 

 uncounted millions all over the northern parts of California, 

 chiefly on the plains and hills, not so commonly on the higher 

 mountains. Larger than Editha, and looks blacker because the 

 red and yellow spots are smaller and do not cover so much of the 

 black ; and the red spots are of a deeper red color, as stated in 

 Editha. Rubicunda is affected with the same variability as de- 

 lineated in Dwinelli, where the fore wing is suffused with a 

 brownish-yellow ; I have specimens of this variation, but do not 

 think them worthy of a place here, having already figured a simi- 

 lar suffusion. 



163. Melitasa Sierra, n. s. Not elsewhere illustrated. 

 Pl.\te XVIII : Figures 163, b, c. 



Fig. 163, Male, Sierra Nevadas, July, 1892; Author. 



b. Female, Sierra Nevadas, July, 1892; Author. 



c. Female, underside. Sierra Nevadas, July, 1892 ; 



Author. 



Size, large: expanse, if^ to 2 inches; very red in color, both 

 wings nearly covered with pale red, and most of the bufify spots 

 overwashed with the red, the female particularly being very red, 

 even the base of hind wings is invaded with a large red spot, so 



