BUTTERFLIES OF MONTANA. 81 



two series of black markings like bands, in addition to the preceding; 

 bases dark. Under side fulvous, fore wings with some black at posterior 

 angle; behind this or hind wing, a large light patch; a light patch bor- 

 dered with dark at middle of outer edge; many light spots on hind wing, 

 making at least two rows. 



Early Stages The food plant is the thistle. The caterpillar is 

 black, yellowish below, with a faint twinned yellow dorsal line and faint 

 lines of the same color on the sides. The spines, which are arranged in 

 six rows, are black. Those of segments four, five, and six, yellow. The 

 chrysalis is dull wood-brown. 



Distribution Washington to Arizona, eastward to Colorado. In the 

 state taken at Helena, July ,2 '03 (1), at Flathead lake, July, '04 (1), and 

 in Yellowstone Park (1). Allen has collected it at Dillon. 



THE MEADOW CRESCENT SPOT. 

 Phyciodes pratensis Behr. Fig. 66. 



Fig. 6G. Phyciodes pratensis. 



Butterfly Expanse, male, 1.15 inches, 30 mm.; female, 1.40 inches, 

 36 mm. Ground color black or dark brown; in the discal cell of the fore 

 wing a prominent light bar; between this and base of wing several 

 smaller light spots; beyond the bar and between it and the light 

 band a small somewhat triangular fulvous bar; two rows of light fulvous 

 or yellowish spots crossing the wing, the inner lighter and with larger 

 spots, the anterior blending to make a broad bar crossed by the dark 

 nerve lines; a sub-marginal row of lunules, the middle one much larger; 

 border black, with a fringe of light hairs alternating with dark, making 

 small light crescents. 



Hind wings similar to the fore wings; the inner band is well marked, 

 broad, crossed by the dark veins of the wing; outer band containing 

 black spots, giving the appearance of fulvous spots pupilled with black, 

 anal edge of the wing black, washed with fulvous; sub-marginal row of 

 light yellow lunules, the third from the anal angle largest; these lunules 

 sometimes almost lacking; border as in front wings. 



Under side of fore wings yellowish fulvous with yellow spots and 

 black patches; a rectangular black spot on the middle of the hinder 

 edge; this joins a series of small black lunules and black patches, mak- 

 ing a bar across the wing, behind which is a wider yellow bar made in 

 the same manner; in some specimens these are reduced; almost dis- 

 appearing; but there is always a dark irregular line across the center 

 of the wing; a sub-terminal double black lunule touching the hinder 



