Genus Melitsea 



the wings. The bands of light spots on the under side are paler 

 than in chalcedon, being white or very pale yellow, narro>v, and 

 more regular. Expanse, ,5 , i. 50-1.80 inch; ?, 1.60- 1.90 inch. 



Early Stages. — These are in part given by Edwards, "The 

 Butterflies of North America, " vol. iii. The food-plant is Castileja. 

 The young larvae have the same habit as those of M. phaeton in 

 the matter of spinning a common web in which to hibernate. 



The species is found in northern California. 



(9) Melitsea rubicunda, Henry Edwards, Plate XVI, Fig. 10, 

 5 (The Ruddy Checker-spot). 



Butterfly. — Of the same size as M. baroiii, from which it is 

 most easily distinguished, among other things, by the tendency of 

 the outer row of small yellow spots near the margin of the hind 

 wings on the upper side to become greatly reduced, and in a ma- 

 jority of specimens to be altogether wanting, as in the specimen 

 figured in our plate. Expanse, (5 , i. 50-1.60 inch; ?, 1.80 inch. 



Early Stages. — For a knowledge of what is thus far known of 

 these the reader may consult the " Canadian Entomologist," vol. 

 xvii, p. 155. The caterpillar feeds on Scrophiilaria. 



The range of this species is in northern California, 



(10) Melitaea taylori, Plate XVI, Fig. 16, $, (Taylor's 

 Checker-spot). 



Butterfly. — This insect resembles M. haroiii, but is smaller, 

 the red spots on the wings are larger and more conspicuous, and 

 the light bands of pale spots more regular and paler in color, in 

 many specimens being quite white. It looks at first sight like a 

 diminutive edition of Baron's Checker-spot, and possibly is only 

 a northern race of this species. Expanse, $, i. 25-1. 50 inch; ?, 

 1. 50-1.75 inch. 



Early Stages. — Mr. W. H. Danby of Victoria, B. C, informs us 

 in the "Canadian Entomologist," vol. xxi, p. 121, that the food- 

 plant of this species is the ribwort-plantain {Plantago lanceo- 

 lata, Linn.). 



It is found on Vancouver's Island. 



(11) Melitaea editha, Boisduval, Plate XVI, Fig. 8, $ (Editha). 

 Butterfly. — Characterized by the considerable enlargement and 



the disposition in regular bands of the pale spots on the upper side 

 of the primaries, and by the tendency to a grayish cast in the darker 

 markings of the upper side, some specimens, especially females, 

 being quite gray. Expanse, 5, 1.50 inch; ?, 2.0c inches. 



142 



