774 ZOOLOGY— INSECTS. 



SATYRUS MEADII, Edw. 



Ercbia Meadii, Edw., Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1872. 



"While riding along the South Park road, this species was discovered 

 near Bailey's ranch, about forty-five miles from Denver, and two specimens 

 were taken on the 2Gth of August. None were to be found a few miles on 

 cither side of this point, so I returned and spent a week in observing the 

 species and noting its habits. It must be very local, since, though not at all 

 uncommon where first met with, none were seen elsewhere during the sea- 

 son. It evidently first appears there about the last of July, since nearly all 

 the specimens were dilapidated, the males especially so. The species in 

 mode of flight much resembles S. Charon, often alighting on dry bare spots 

 in the grass and walking a few steps, then, after resting a few moments, 

 flying off to some flower or other bare spot. A few eggs were obtained ; 

 they are like those of Charon; when first laid the eggs are nearly white, 

 but in the course of two or three days become mottled with pale purple. 



S. Mead'ti was at first referred to the genus Erebia. In some specimens, 

 the fulvous spots in arrangement and tint are cpiite similar to E. Epipsodea, 

 Butler; but the strongly dilated bases of the three principal veins of primaries 

 would indicate that it is a true Satyrus, and this view receives support from 

 the fact that the marking on the under side consists of short, transverse striae, 

 as in the undoubted Satyri. This, like S. RicUngsii, stands alone in a group, 

 apart from the rest of the genus, and having no known analogues on this 

 continent though similar species are found in Europe. 



SATYRUS RIDINGSII, Edw. 

 Satyrus Ridinr/sii, Edw., Proc. Eut. Soc. Phila., 1805. 



About the first of June, on the plains near Denver, a few specimens 

 were found hiding in the short, parched grass, and flying up when disturbed, 

 exactly as is the habit of Drasteria among the moths. The color of these 

 butterflies harmonizes excellentlv with that of the dry herbage, and renders 

 them cpiite difficult of detection, even when near at hand. It appears to be 

 a rare species about Turkey Creek, but in the sage brush country, about 

 Twin Lakes, (Arkansas Valley, 8,000 feet elevation), is very abundant in 

 July, appearing there in company with Satyrus Charon. It is, however, 



