Genus (Sneis 



the parts of the United States immediately contiguous to the 

 Canadian line. The most widely known of all the species up to 

 this time is the White Mountain Butterfly, CEiieis semidea, Say, 

 a colony of which has existed probably ever since the glacial 

 period upon the loftiest summit of Mount Washington, in New 

 Hampshire. A number of species are found in the region of the 

 Rocky Mountains. One species, CEneis jutta, Hiibner, occurs in 

 Maine, Nova Scotia, and parts adjacent. There are in all about 

 a score of species of this genus recognized by authors as occur- 

 ring in our fauna. In spite of the fact that these insects are 

 boreal or arctic in their habits, Mr. W. H. Edwards has with 

 marvelous skill and patience succeeded in obtaining the eggs 

 and rearing at his home in Coalburg, West Virginia, a number 

 of species. We are indebted to him for more of our knowledge 

 of the generic characteristics of these insects, in their early stages, 

 than had been ascertained hitherto during a century of investi- 

 gation. His work is one of the beautiful triumphs of that endur- 

 ing zeal which is a supreme quality in the naturalist. In their 

 early stages all of the species show a close likeness to one an- 

 other. 



(i) CEneis gigas, Butler, Plate XXVII, Fig. i, 3 ; Fig. 2, ? 

 (The Greater Arctic). 



Butterfly.— This, one of the largest species in the genus, 

 occurs on Vancouver's Island. The butterfly hides among the 

 dark mosses and upon the trunks of prostrate trees. The males 

 are vigilant and inquisitive, and dart out suddenly when alarmed, 

 or attracted by passing insects. The females have a slower and 

 more leisurely flight and are more readily taken. Expanse, 2.00- 

 2.2^ inches. 



Early S/j^'^5.— Edwards has figured the egg and the cater- 

 pillar in its first three stages, but the remaining life-history of 

 the species awaits investigation. 



(2) CEneis iduna, Edwards, Plate XXVII, Fig. 4, 6 (The 

 Iduna Butterfly). 



Butte rfJy.— This insect, which even exceeds CE. gigas in size, 

 is found on the Coast Range in northern California. It is 

 decidedly lighter on the outer third of the wings than the pre- 

 ceding species, the male being prevalently a pale yellowish- 

 brown, with the basal and median areas of the fore wing dark 

 brown. On the under side the wings are somewhat lighter than 



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