LEPIDOPTERA— NYMPHALIDAE— MELITAEA CHALCEDON. 757 



The small mountain streams in Colorado often widen and form swampy 

 belts, perhaps fifty yards in width, overgrown with willows, grass, and 

 herbage ; violet plants are also abundant. Such boggy places are the 

 favored resort of these butterflies. They often alight on the bushes and 

 also on flowers, when alarmed flying up like some moth. Their wings move 

 rapidly, and in this respect almost remind one of Ahjpia. The species 

 almost entirely disappears by the 20th of June. 



ARGYNNIS TRICLARIS, Hiibn. 

 Argynnis Triclaris, Hubn., Exotische Schmetterliuge. 



The first specimens of this species were taken near the Kenosha House, 

 June 29, but it was found more abundantly near Fairplay. 



The species has been considered a mere Arctic variety of a European 

 species (A ApMrape, Hiibner), but all the Colorado specimens show great 

 uniformity of marking ; and the asserted existence of intergrades upon the 

 continent of Europe cannot affect the status of our species, though perhaps 

 furnishing an indication of the origin of the European form, as it would seem 

 probable that the widely distributed and hardy Triclaris may be the parent 

 species. 



The last specimen of Triclaris was taken in the Arkansas Valley, July 

 14; the species seems to be rather local, though abundant near Fairplay. 



ARGYNNIS HELENA, Edw. 

 Argynnis Helena, Edw., Traus. Am. Ent. Soc, 1871. 



This species is nearly allied to Chariclea, Herbst, and seems to be its 

 Rocky Mountain representative. It inhabits the highest peaks, and was 

 found throughout all parts of the Snowy range which were visited. At 

 13,000 and 14,000 feet, though the temperature must descend below the 

 freezing point every night through the summer, the species seems perfectly 

 at home, and is often more abundant than below. Specimens may be found 

 until the first of August. 



MELIT/EA, (Fabr.) Westwood. 

 MELITLEA CHALCEDON, Doubleday. 

 Melitcea Chalcedon, Edw., Butterflies N. A., i. 



Said by Reakirt to be found in the Rocky Mountains. I took one 



