Genus Melitaea 



sharply defined upon the black outer shade, followed by a row of 

 irregular white submarginal spots. The transverse bands of spots 

 on the primaries are repeated upon the secondaries, where they 

 are more regular and the spots more even in size. On the under 

 side both wings are pale red, with the light spots of the upper side 

 reappearing as pale-yellow sharply defined spots. The fringes are 

 checkered black and white. 



9. — Much like the male, but larger. Expanse, $, i. 35-1.50 

 inch; 9 , 1. 50-1. 75 inch. 



Early Stages. — Unknown. 



This species is common in Texas. It is identical, as an ex- 

 amination of the type shows, with M. bolli, Edwards, and the 

 latter name as a synonym falls into disuse. 



(26) Melitaea minuta, Edwards, Plate XVII, Fig. 11, 8, 

 under side; Fig. 12, $ (The Smaller Checker-spot). 



Butterfly, $ . — This species is fulvous on the upper side, rather 

 regularly banded with black lines. The veins are also black. The 

 result is that the wings appear to be more regularly checkered than 

 in any other species which is closely allied to this. The markings 

 of the under side are white edged with black, and are shown very 

 well in the plate, so that a lengthy description is unnecessary. 

 Expanse, $, 1. 25-1. 35 inch; 9, 1. 50-1.60 inch. 



Early Stages. — Unknown. 



The specific name, minuta, is not altogether appropriate. 

 There are many smaller species of the genus. It is found rather 

 commonly in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. 



(27) Melitaea arachne, Edwards, Plate XVI, Fig. 22, 9 

 (Arachne). 



Butterfly.— I have given in the plate a figure of a female bear- 

 ing this name in the Edwards collection. It is remarkably pale 

 on the upper side. There is a large series of types and paratypes 

 in the collection, but all of them vary on the upper side of the 

 wings in the intensity of the fulvous ground-color and the width 

 of the black markings. Underneath they are absolutely like M. 

 minuta. I think M. arachne is without much doubt a synonym 

 for M. minuta. The species varies very greatly. The types are 

 from Colorado and western Texas. Expanse as in M. minuta. 



Early Stages. — Unknown. 



(28) Melitaea nympha, Edwards, Plate XVI, Fig. 21, 8 

 (Nympha). 



