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Lycaena Sonorensis, Feld, 



By W. G. Wright, 

 San Bernardino, Cal. 



This most exquisite of all North American diurnals has for its 

 habitat the Pacific Coast from latitude 37O to 27" and possibly to 25^' 

 North, a range of 600 or 700 miles, the Southern limit not being yet 

 determined. From the coast line it penetrates into the interior probably 

 less than 100 miles, 60 miles being its limit of actual observation at 

 present. While it is thus somewhat widely spread in comparison with 

 some coast butterflies, it is always extremely rare and difficult to get. In 

 ordinary years three or four examples are a fair catch. Only twice, eluring 

 several years of active work, have I seen this insect flying in anything 

 like numbers. The first time was in February, 1883, near Todos Santos 

 Bay in Lower California, when I found it, as I thought breeding, and 

 flying in plentiful numbers, but so old and worn that they were worth- 

 less. The second time was this past Spring of 1888, 30 miles from this 

 place, and ovipositing on Cotyledon laxa. By most persistent and labor- 

 ous work I succeeded in getting a fine case full of the insects, and in 

 securing eggs and larvae sufficient to establish all the stages, fur publica- 

 tion. Nearly the whole of my material was obtained from a little bit of 

 land two or three \ ards wide and twenty yards long. It is a little secluded 

 pocket in the mountains, and so hidden and inconspicuous that I iirst 

 passed by it on one side, seeing none flying, when really there must have 

 been half a dozen flying within fifteen yards of me; but on returning, my 

 chance let me across the pocket, and all at once I saw them in numbers. 

 You may believe that a lively time followed. I got about a dozen that 

 first day. But before I had caught half a dozen I had observed the queer 

 flight of the females, close to the ground, or along the face of a damp 

 rock, evidently plant-hunting. Presently one alighted on the thick suc- 

 culent leaf of a Co/j^fe/o;?, left an egg, and flew away. Catching her as 

 she flew, I dropped upon that plant, and found the ^zg. Then I had 

 the whole secret, and, having the secret, it was but a matter of time. 

 patience and work, to get the rest. 



I account it of more use and value to get the plant and the prepar- 

 atory stages established than to get many butterflies, for while any one 

 can catch a butterfly, not many can or will work it up. So, in this case, 

 I tramped many a mile, and waded an icy stream more than five hundred 

 times, to get a few little eggs and caterpillars that altogether weigh but .1 



