116 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA. 



Distribution Ochracea has a wide range, from Lake Winnipeg in 

 British Columbia to Kansas and west to California. 



This dainty little insect is abundant about Missoula in early spring. 

 In May and early June it sports along the open hillsides, being most 

 abundant in mountain gullies where moisture lingers, or along the banks 

 of streams. 



The university collection embraces specimens from McDonald lake 

 in the Mission Mountains, Missoula, New Chicago, the Tobacco Root 

 range, and the Ruby Mountains. It is common about Helena according 

 to Brandegee. Wiley has it in his collection from Miles City, and Cooley 

 has collected it at Forsyth and Bozeman. Coubeaux reports it moder- 

 ately common in Bear Paw Mountains. Coues collected it along the 49th 

 parallel in 1874. 



Remarks: Dr. Henry Skinner, in his revision of the American species 

 of the genus Coenonumpha. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., Vol. XXVI, says of this 

 species: "That is quite a variable species. The upper side differs 

 very much in different specimens in regard to the distinctness with which 

 the spots below show through on the upper side. The color of this spe- 

 cies, in conjunction with the distinct ocellus on the premaries below, serve 

 to distinguish it from all others." He calls C. brenda Edwards a synonym 

 of C. ochracea, and says it is only a much spotted ochracea. "If we give 

 names to all the variations of ochracea we would have six names for 

 the species." 



THE RINGLESS RINGLET. Coenonympha elko, Edwards. 



Butterfly, IvTaTe Expanse, .95 to 1.00 inch, 25 mm. 



Upper side pale ochre-yellow, immaculate; fringes concolored. Up- 

 per side of primaries nearly same ochre-yellow over basal area and part 

 of disk, limited without by a slightly sinuous and crenated edge of deeper 

 color, much as in the allied species; outside this, slightly ochraceous next 

 the inner angle, but yellow-buff over apical area. The secondaries have 

 the basal area uniform grey-brown, the outline distinct and in strong con- 

 trast with the remainder of the wing which is yellow-buff. Very slightly 

 gray; the outline is irregularly crenated, with a deep sinus on the upper 

 sub-costal interspace, and another on the lower disco-cellular interspace. 



Female Expands 1.00 to 1.02 inches. Upper side like the male. 

 Beneath, the area just outside the crenated edging on disk of primaries 

 is yellow for a little distance, then tinted ochraceous to the margin, in 

 one example a minute black dot in the disco-cellular interspace with white 

 center, in another no dot; secondaries as in male, basal area one shade 

 of gray, with distinct crenated outline, and beyond a yellow or buff ground 

 to the margin, very little dusted with gray. 



Distribution It occurs in Vancouver's Island, Washington, Oregon, 

 Nevada, Montana, Utah and Idaho. 



Remarks: Very much like ochracea, but it is distinguished from 

 others by the absence of ocelli on both wings, above and below. Accord- 

 ing to Edwards ampelos and elko are same. He has found two speci- 

 mens with spots on the secondaries. 



THE PLAIN RINGLET, Coenonymph tiphon, var. laidon, Borkh. 



Butterfly This Butterfly was described by Edwards as C. inornata 

 Dr. Buckell called attention to its resemblance to the European form. 

 His view is confirmed by Dr. Skinner in his recent paper previously re- 

 ferred to. The following is Edwards' description of inornata, and there- 

 fore of laidon. 



