GENUS THECLA 205 



its habitat, as it does not go further north than the Gulf States, 

 where it is common, and westward to Arizona and Southern Cali- 

 fornia. It is rapid and tricky in flight, but it does not go far away 

 from the trees whereon its plant grows. When feeding on 

 flowers it is tame and readily approached. Halesus has two tails, 

 a thread-like one, and a broad, spatulate one that is always twisted, 

 or turned edgewise. 



The larval food-plant is mistletoe, usually found growing on 

 Cottonwood trees. 



Genus THECLA. 



Rather small-sized butterflies; bodies stout; six- footed; the 

 hind wings usually terminated with thread-like tails. Flight, rapid 

 and eccentric. 



Sex-mark, the same as in the previous genus, namely, the male 

 is marked with a "stigma" near costa, in the middle of the wing, 

 the female has no such mark, but the abdomen of the female is 

 larger, usually noticeably so. 



308. Thecla Melinus. 



Plate XXVII ; Figures 308, Male ; b, Female. 

 This is a very common species all over the United States, and is 

 known in some places as Thecla Humuli. In the Eastern States it 

 is said to feed on the common hop-vine, the caterpillars being 

 called "green, downy caterpillars" ; but in California the eggs are 

 oviposited on the flower-buds of Malva rotundifolia. As I have 

 taken this butterfly in desert localities, where there are no hop- 

 vines nor malva plants within many miles, I am sure that the larvae 

 are rather omnivorous, and feed on many different plants. 



309. Thecla Californica. Not elsewhere illustrated. 

 Plate XXVII ; Figures 309, a. 



Fig. 309, Male, Central California, no data; from Prof. 



Rivers. 



a, Male, underside, Sisson, Cal., 1898; Author. 



This is a northern species, inhabiting the mountainous parts of 



Central and Northern California. The colors are rather neutral, 



and the key to the species is the small fulvous spot on upper side 



at anal angle and the blue spot with differently colored lunules 



on either side on the under side of the wing, as shown on the plate. 



