BUTTERFLIES OF MONTANA. 



129 



Distribution From New England west to Montana and Vancouver. 

 South to Los Angeles. Taken in Nevada and Arizona. In Montana 

 taken occasionally at Flathead lake. It is scarce. 

 Genus INCISALIA, the Elfins. 



Butterfly The hind wings have only a short projection, if any, at 

 the anal angle. The under side of hind wings without a row of 

 orange spots. Dark brownish butterflies, with the fringe of the hind 

 wings a scalloped outline. No prominent tail like prolongations of the 

 wings. In the outer third of the inner margin of the hind wings there 

 is a deep rounded excision, producing a conspicuous lobe at the anal 

 angle. Discal spot present in the fore wings of the males, usually in- 

 conspicuous. Under surface almost as dark as the upper, especially on 

 the basal half, which is separated from the outer half by a wavy line. 

 Key to Species. 



A large rusty brown space in the middle of each wing of the female, 

 but near the anal angle of the male niphon 



The inner of the two dark bands on the outer third oi the wing not 

 sharply angulated below the third median nervule eryphon 



Outer half of the lower surface of the hind wings uniform rust red 



augustus 



Outer half of lower surface of hind wings sprinkled with pale lilac 



irus 

 THE HOARY ELFIN, Incisalia irus Godart. Fig. 97. 



Butterfly Expanse, 1.10 inches, 23 mm. Grayish brown on the. 

 upper side; wings below are of the same color, paler on ahe outer 

 margins, and darker toward the base; the outer half of the lower surface 

 of the hind wings sprinkled, especially near the margin, with pale lilac 

 scales, giving it a hoary bloom. 



Early Stages The caterpillar is said to feed on the plum. 



Distribution The species is rather rare, but has been found from the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific in latitude of New England. In the state it has 

 been taken on Mount Ascension, near Helena (one), by Brandegee; at 

 Winscott (one), 6,000 feet (near Helena), by Brandegee; at Miles City 

 (one) by Wiley. 



Fig. 97. Incisala irus. 



THE BANDED ELFIN, Incisalia niphon Huebner. 



Butterfly Expanse, 1. 10 inches, 28 mm. Upper side dark blackish 



brown, a large rusty brown space in the middle of each wing of the 



female, but only near the anal angle of the male; a distinct whit<0 or 



whitish edging near the base of the under side of the hind wings, limit- 



