[157] OBSERVATIONS ON MELITJEA PHAETON. 25 



has not been observed, during five years of frequent visits to this 

 locality by Mr. Peck and Mr. Meske. One specimen has been taken 

 by the former in Sandlake, N. Y. It has also been captured near 

 Utica, N. Y. I have not met with it at Schoharie, 1ST. Y., nor in the 

 neighborhood of Albany except at Center, although its favorite food- 

 plant is of common occurrence in this vicinity. 



While the genus Melitsea, as recently restricted by Edwards,* is only 

 represented east of the Mississippi river by the single species Phaeton 

 (our smaller Melitaeas being placed by him in the genus Phyciodes of 

 Hiibner), it is interesting to note, as illustrative of faunal distribution, 

 its full representation in our western States and territories. Of the 

 seventeen other species recorded as congeneric, one is from Texas, one 

 is credited to Colorado only, one to Oregon only, one to Alaska, and 

 thirteen occur in California (of which number three are also found in 

 Colorado, in Nevada and in Oregon). 



* Synopsis of North American Butterflies, pp. 15, 16. 



