154 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE WEST COAST 



Augusta is a local, southern ^lelitsea, and is known only from 

 the southern counties of the State of California, and especially 

 from the three counties of San Diego, Riverside, and San Ber- 

 nardino, in which counties it is quite abundant in the proper sea- 

 son, particularly along the sea coast of San Diego County, and 

 in the mountains of San Bernardino County. I believe it to be 

 more abundant in the Mexican State of Baja California than in 

 any place in the State of California. 



There are three broods ; an early one from chrysalides that have 

 wintered over in the pupa state, and two later ones, the last one, 

 in June, forming the chrysalides that will winter over for emer- 

 gence in the early spring of the next year. The early brood is 

 much smaller, and is markedly darker in color, especially on the 

 fore wings, insomuch that at some future day it may be known 

 by a separate name, as a seasonal form of Augusta ; this early, 

 dark form is not represented on the plate. In it, the black of fore 

 wings is broadened or emphasized at the expense of the red and 

 white. 



This species was discovered by the Author in the foothills about 

 San Bernardino, and in 1890 Mr. Edwards named it for Mrs. 

 Wright, who had then passed on to the butterfly lands of the 

 next world. 



The larval food-plant, as ascertained by Mrs. Brandegee, of 

 San Diego, is Plantago patagonica, a small, grass-like plant only 

 two to four inches high. I have myself never been able to observe 

 the ovipositing of the eggs or the feeding of the larvae. 



170. Melitaea Augustina, n. v. Not illustrated elsewhere. 



Plate XIX; Figures 170, a, S. B. Mts., April, 1891 ; 

 Author. 

 Augustina was taken with Augusta at a time and place when 

 there were no other Melitasas in flight, and undoubtedly it is a 

 variety or aberration of Augusta. As the specimen is unique, I 

 had to detach the left wings in order to show the underside ; the 

 photographic figure shows a very singular plan of markings, 

 unlike anything I have ever seen elsewhere. The example is male ; 

 and males are seldom liable to aberration or variation, but it has 

 the appearance of an aberration, being almost too extreme for a 

 merely variant form. I have named it "the little Augusta." 



