family apply as well to this as to many of the following genera, and need not be here 

 repeated. 



While students of this group have subdivided extensively, and with scientific propriety 

 have erected a number of genera which are acceptable to specialists, there seems to the writer 

 no need for going into these things in this book, as most of the distinctions drawn are too fine 

 to be appreciated by any but specialists. 



(1) Thecla halesus (Cramer), Plate LXXIX, cT (The Great Purple Hair-streak). 



The upper side is deep purplish blue, as shown in our figure; on the lower side the thorax 

 is black spotted with white, the abdomen orange-red; the wings warm sepia spotted with 

 crimson at their bases, in the males glossed with a stripe of metallic green on the fore wings, 

 und in both sexes adorned at the anal angle by spots of metallic green, red, and iridescent blue. 

 Expanse 1.35-1.50 inch. 



Common in Central America and Mexico, ranging north through the hotter parts of the 

 Gulf States, and has been recorded from southern Illinois. Occurs in southern California 

 and Arizona. The larva feeds on mistletoe. 



(2) Thecla m-album Boisduval & Leconte, Plate LXXX, Fig. 1, tf (The White-M Hair- 

 streak). 



Smaller than the preceding species, bluer, and not inclined to greenish at base of wings on 

 upper side; on undf r side fore wing crossed by a submarginal and a median line of white, contin- 



149 



