ARGYNNIS CALLIPPE. 



Argynnis Calllppe, Boisduval ; Edwards, But. N. A., Vol. I., p. 77, pi. 25. 



Mr. W. G. Wi'ight, at San Bernardino, says of this species : "Its range, in this 

 region, is from near the sea level to the altitude of 2500 feet. It is found in the 

 low valleys, where the hills shut off the winds, and the hot sunshine makes a torrid 

 temperature. Its season is short, only about five weeks, and I have had no evi- 

 dence of a second brood. When the males first appear, about 20th May, the bottom 

 of the valley and adjoining hillsides are green with grass, and gay with flowers of 

 various plants. These males are restless, alighting on the flowers but for a mo- 

 ment, and seem incessantly occupied in searching for their mates. Almost always 

 I have had to take them on the wing. The females appear about 1st June, and 

 should be searched for among the dead twigs and branches of the small bushes 

 which dot the hillsides, such being the spots to which they resort to lay their 

 eggs. Under these bushes, a few violets have grown in early spring, and by 

 Jime, their dead leaves may be seen. The violets never grow at the bottom of 

 the valley, and the female never approaches green violets, some bunches of 

 which are to be found, in June, at a higher elevation. Her instinct leads her to 

 the dead plants. Among the twigs about these, and upon the rubbish at the 

 ground, she flutters and crawls, and having found a satisfactory place, pushes her 

 abdomen down into the rubbish as far as possible and drops an egg. Perhaps 

 puts another near the first, and then flies to another place. The young larvae 

 come from the eggs in about twelve days, and must be in lethargic state till the 

 beginning of the next season. I have never been able to find the larvae in 

 spring, though I have searched diligently." 



In the region about San Bernardino, there are but three species of Argynnis, 

 namely, Liliana, CaUipj^e, and Setniramis, and the last two have the same habits 

 in disposing of their eggs. According to Dr. Behr, as stated in Volume I., Callippe 

 is distributed throughout the State, and is the most common species about San 

 Francisco, but it is everywhere one-brooded. 



In the text concerning CaUijype, in Vol. I., some doubt was expressed as to 

 what form Dr. Boisduval applied that name, his description not being definite. 

 But I afterwards received from him the type male (the Callippe of my Plate). 



