Publ. 5. VI. 1913. ARGYNNIS. By Dr. TH. Lexnmann. 417 
and with the terminal border, enclosing on both wings small, triangular, pale marginal dots which, like the 
almost quadrate light discal patches on the forewings, contrast vividly with the dark ground; this is even 
more marked in the oval spots on the discal area of the hindwings corresponding to the row of silvery spots 
underneath, which are paler buff than the rest. Under surface of the forewings yellowish buff, at the base and 
on the lower nervules dusted with fulvous. Hindwings dark fulvous to the outer third, with the submarginal 
band clear buff; the spots large and well silvered. 2 on the whole paler than 3, the discal area of both 
Wings as well as the median and submarginal spots on the hindwings nearly whitish; the black markings even 
heavier than in g. Also underneath it resembles the g, but is slightly paler. callippe is easily recognized 
by the deep obscuration of the basal areas of both wings and by the striking contrast formed by the uncom- 
monly pale colour of the discal and médian spots with the dark ground. Expanse: 3 2,3’, 2 3,0’. According 
to Dr. Benr, callippe is very common throughout California, especially in the lower parts of the country. Near 
San Francisco it is by far the commonest Argynnis, flying in June together with the much rarer liliana 
and semiramis. About its habits WRigutT writes from San Bernardino: ‘‘callippe is found from the sea-coast 
up to an altitude of about 2500 ft., preferring the dry, deep, sheltered valleys. Its season is rather short, lasting 
only about 5 weeks, and everything indicates that there is but one brood. The 3d appear about on the 
20th of May; they fly restlessly about, only rarely alighting on some flower to sip a little honey. In the begin- 
ning of July the 2° appear; these, in contradistinction to the $¢, fly but little; one sees them generally 
near and among the dead twigs and branches of the shrubs growing on the steep slopes, in whose scanty shade 
certain species of violets thrive in spring, the leaves of which die off already in June; they are never seen to 
grow on the bottom of the valleys, only on the sloping sides; nor do the 99 ever seek out green, fresh-looking 
plants, but flutter or crawl about between the dried-up leaves and twigs; as soon as a favourable place is found, 
they push their body as far as possible into the loose rubbish or half-decomposed leaves, depositing one or more 
eggs, after which they seek another similar place to repeat the same game. The larvae are hatched after 
about 12 days and go at once in lethargy, in which state they spend the entire summer and following winter 
until early spring. In spring-time I never succeeded in finding a single caterpillar“. 
A. juba &sd. from California is, according to its author, so closely allied to callippe that it may be re- 
garded as a local race. Both sexes have the upper surface bright fulvous, but without the blackish tinge 
characteristic of callippe §. Underneath it differs very little from that species. Epwarps, on the other hand, 
inclines to the belief that it is a form of the highly variable coronis, representing a transition to the cal- 
lippe group; LoRQUTIN again treats it as a separate species. Whichever view is correct, can only be decided by 
breeding experiments. 
A. nevadensis Hdw. (86, d) stands in the markings of the upper surface and in the form and size 
of the silvery spots nearest edwardsii. J above pale yellow-fulvous, but slightly obscured at base. Termen 
bordered by 2 rather heavy black parallel lines enclosing a narrow fulvous streak intersected by the nerves, 
and joining the rather fine, confluent submarginal lunules. The black discal spots reduced, but very distinct, 
similar to those of edwardsii. The median band on the hindwings confluent. Forewings on the under surface 
pale buff, the basal area suffused with reddish as far as the cellular spots; the apex and posterior submarginal 
spots greenish olivaceous, the upper submargina]l and the subapical spots well silvered. Hindwings greenish, 
with moderately broad, but sharply defined, submarginal band of dull buff, and strikingly large, very 
pronounced silver spots. Abdominal margin and the basal portion of the costal margin likewise silvered. 
a 
2 like the g, but larger and somewhat lighter; the outer border of the forewings more broadly black, 
enclosing some insignificant traces of fulvous spots. The light patches enclosed by the submarginal lunules, 
and the discal spots corresponding to the second silvered row of the hindwings pale buff. The forewings 
underneath asin the g, pale buff, but with the base and inner margin deep fulvous red. Hindwings underneath 
like those of the 3, but the green colouring darker and more lustrous, mottled with pale olive, and adorned 
with large and conspicuous silvery spots. Expanse: 3 2,25’’, 9 2,42,6’”. Nothing is known of the earlier stages. 
A. nevadensis is a wide-spread species, being found in the mountainous parts of Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, 
Montava, Washington and the adjacent parts of British Colombia, but apparently always local. H. Epwarps 
was the first who discovered it, near Virginia City in Nevada. “It particularly abounds in the warm ravines 
(cafions) near Washoe Lake, a lovely mountain-lake 2 miles wide and 7 long, situated 6500 ft. above 
the level of the sea in the lower mountains, the highest elevation of which is Mt. Davidson, on the slopes 
of which Virginia City is built. In spring the borders of the lake are covered with the most luxuriant vegetation, 
in which Compositae, Violaceae and Liliaceae play an important part. Here A. nevadensis abounds; but on 
account of its rapid, restless flight its capture is, like that of most mountain-butterflies of the Rockies, 
enormously difficult and laborious in that wild and broken country. Just to get to those places, the collector 
Vv 53 
juba. 
nevadensis. 
