117 



compact a species as ^/«<?rt and so frail a one as Dissecta. I hope 

 the present List will create fresh interest in the matter. As 

 compared with its representation in Europe, the genus has taken 

 on much new character, aud its diagnosis may need rewriting. I 

 would not be understood as giving anything but the most super- 

 ficial value to the sub-genera I have here recognized ; they have 

 been merely helps to sort and arrange the species and light up the 

 genus a little from within, so that we can see where the main 

 differences betv/een European and North American Apatelw lies. 



MID-WINTER BUTTERFLIES. 



By W. G. Wright. 



A three hundred mile trip was made into Lower California 

 this past winter, starting January i8, 1883. The expedition con- 

 sisted of a botanist, a conchologist, an ichthyologist and a lepi- 

 dopterist, and the report of this latter is herewith given. If one 

 cannot expect very great results at this season of the year there 

 will be this negative advantage, that the story will be brief. 



The climate of this region is so mild, equable and dry that 

 not one of the party took overcoat, umbrella or rubber blanket. 

 Usually we went about without coats on. One day in particular 

 was very hot ; I think the mercury must have been up to 90°. 

 A canvas covered wagon and a small tent sheltered the party at 

 night. It was known to us as a barren country, and especially so, 

 since no grass had as yet started, so, as forage is not kept there 

 for sale, we were obliged to carry hay and grain for our teams, 

 enough to last the entire round trip, from San Diego. Water 

 for camp use is found at springs and wells. Wherever a spring 

 is found, there is sure to be a Mexican family living. But these 

 improvident people never have anything to sell, and when a 

 stranger ventures into one of the houses his first impulse is to get 

 out again as speedily as possible, unless, indeed, he be an insect 

 hunter. Wood for camp fires was usually abundant. Only once 

 did we fail to have a roaring good fire nearly all night, and water 

 for camp purposes was never lacking but once ; but as for brooks 

 and running streams, there were none. During 200 miles of the 

 Southern part of the trip not one running stream was found. It 

 had, however, been a dry winter, no rains having fallen up to 

 that time., consequently the whole interior was dry and barren. 

 During the first few days we crossed a series of high, cold hills. 

 One of the nights there was very cold, and a skim of ice was 

 found in the morning; then the road led down to the coast, and 

 soon we felt the damp, mild sea air, and found warmer weather, 

 and a little green grass and blossoming plants, and a few butter- 

 flies, and, as we worked southward along the shore we met ever- 



