192 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE WEST COAST 



270. Neominois Ridingsi. 



Plate XXV ; Figures 270, b. 



Fig. 270, Male, Colorado, no data; Mr. Nash. 



b, Female, Central Montana, July, 1892 ; Author. 



This is a Great Basin butterfly, inhabiting all the States between 



the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas, being found in the 



hills and smaller mountains, but not on the plains. It may be 



looked for in Eastern Oregon and Washington. 



271. Neominois Dionysius. 



Plate XXV; Figures 271, b. 



Fig. 271, Male, Western Colorado, no data ; from W. H. 

 Edwards, 

 b. Female, Western Colorado, no data ; from D. 

 Bruce. 

 Dionysius is another Great Basin butterfly ; is not now known 

 west of Utah, but there is no apparent reason why it should not be 

 found at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and up 

 to the Cascades. 



Genus CCENONYMPHA. 



This genus, like the Anthocharis, finds its metropolis on the 

 West Coast of the United States, and, to be more definite, in Cali- 

 fornia. Of the twelve species on the West Coast only one ranges 

 through the northern States of Montana and Minnesota, and 

 thence through Canada to New Foundland ; so that all the North- 

 eastern, Middle and Western States have none at all : while fur- 

 ther south one species reaches eastward to Kansas. The Rocky 

 Mountains are scantily supplied with them ; also the vast regions 

 of the Great Basin, up to the Sierra Nevadas. California probably 

 has more Coenonymphas than all the rest of the United States. 



Coenonymphas fly on the plains and in the valleys and on the 

 foothills, but do not go high up on any mountain ; about 4,500 

 feet is the limit. All these species fly in an uncertain, gentle man- 

 ner, and they are easily caught. When in confinement, as in a 

 net, for the purpose of getting eggs, they are tractable, and will 

 lay their eggs on the net which secures them, or upon anything 

 else that comes handy, like all Satyrids, not requiring any kind 

 of a food-plant on which to oviposit them. 



