MELIT^A I. 



row orange, the others bhie-bUick, those of second lateral row rising from tubercu- 

 lated orange spots; legs and pro-legs black. 



Chrysalis. Length .7 inch Cylindrical; color pearl-white, marked with 

 patches and points of dark brown ; on the abdomen several rows of orange tubercles. 



Mr. Henry Edwards speaking of Chalcedon says: — "The jierfect insect appears 

 to be generally distributed throughout the State, extending also into Oregon and 

 Nevada. The first individuals make their aj^j^earance about the second week in 

 April and successive broods are hatched up to middle of July. The caterpillar 

 feeds upon Scrophularia chiefly, though I have observed it upon Dipsacus, Castil- 

 leja and Lonicera. It is one of the most abundant of our species, every canon lead- 

 ing from the mountain chains to the valley below being productive of large num- 

 bers. It is an active insect, seldom remaining settled in one place and is very 

 j)ugnacious, driving away eveiy other butterfly which may venture near it. On 

 this account it is very troublesome to the collector and I have lost several rare 

 insects entirely through this habit of Chalcedon. Like all Melitasas, it is subject 

 to considerable variation, in some individuals the reddish patches covering nearly 

 the whole of the upper surface of the primaries. The female is far less common 

 than the male, is inactive and flies but little." 



