Genus Thecla 



are crossed by white lines, much as in m-album. The anal angle 

 is marked with black, followed outwardly by a broad patch of 

 iridescent greenish-blue scales. Between the end of the sub- 

 marginal vein and the first median nervule is a black spot sur- 

 mounted with carmine, edged inwardly with black; three or four 

 carmine crescents similarly edged, but rapidly diminishing in size, 

 extend as a transverse submarginal band toward the costa. Ex- 

 panse, 1.25 inch. 



Early Stages. Unknown. 

 Alcestis is found in Texas and Arizona. 



(10) Thecla melinus, Hubner, Plate XXIX, Fig. 31, $ ; 

 Plate XXXII, Fig. 20, $ ; Plate V, Fig. 39, chrysalis (The Com- 

 mon Hair-streak). 



Butterfly. Much confusion has arisen from the fact that this 

 insect has received a number of names and has also been con- 

 founded with others. Fig. 31 in Plate XXIX repre- 

 sents the insect labeled humuli, Harris, in the Ed- 

 wards collection; Fig. 20 in Plate XXXII represents 

 the insect labeled melinus, Hubner. There is a very 

 large series of both in the collection, but a minute 

 comparison fails to reveal any specific difference. 

 Humuli of Harris is the same as melinus of Hubner; 

 and recent authors, I think, are right in sinking the 

 name given by Harris as a synonym. This common 

 little butterfly may easily be recognized by its plain 

 slaty upper surface, adorned by a large black spot, 

 crowned with crimson between the origin of the two 

 tails of the secondaries. Expanse, 1.10-1.20 inch. 

 Early Stages. These are in part well known. The 

 caterpillar feeds on the hop-vine. Melinus is found all over tem- 

 perate North America, and ranges southward into Mexico and 

 Central America at suitable elevations. 



(n) Thecla acadica, Edwards, Plate XXIX, Fig. 15, $ ; 

 Plate V, Fig. 35, chrysalis (The Acadian Hair-streak). 



Butterfly. The, male is pale slaty-gray above, with some ill- 

 defined orange spots near the anal angle, the usual oval sex- 

 mark on the fore wing. The female is like the male above; but 

 the orange spots at the anal angle of the hind wings are broader, 

 and in some specimens similar spots appear on the fore wings 

 near the inner angle. On the under side in both sexes the 



242 



FIG. 130. 

 Neuration of 

 Thecla meli- 

 nus. (After 

 Scudder.) Typ- 

 ical of subge- 

 nus Uranotes. 



