GENUS NISONIADES 251 



its place, as I have not ever taken Tessellata in either of those 

 States. It flies all the season through, early and late, living closely 

 up to the frost line in spring and in autumn. 



The larval food-plant is Malva rotundifolia. The egg, like those 

 of most skippers, is nearly globular, light -green in color, and is 

 oviposited on the leaf-buds. 



458. Pyrgus Caespitalis. 



Plate XXXI ; Figures 458, b, c. 



Fig. 458, Male, "Mendocino," no further data ; W. H. 

 Edwards, 1886. 



b, Female, Donner Lake, Cal., June 25, 1891 ; 



Author. 



c, Female, underside, Tehachapi Mountains, June 



10, 1900; Author. 

 This is rather a northern species. I have not met it further 

 south than the Tehachapi Mountains, and in the Northern States 

 of the West Coast it is abundant. Especially near Portland, Mt. 

 Tabor used to be full of them. I have taken it in Eastern Wash- 

 ington at Ellensburg. 



459- Pyrgus Scriptura. 



Plate XXXI ; Figure 459, Male, Yuma, Arizona, May, 

 1899 ; Author. 

 This little species is one of the rare things of our fauna; it is 

 not common anywhere, or if it is, then I have never found that 

 place. In fact, I think it is one of the most rare butterflies of the 

 whole hst, for this specimen here figured is the only one I have 

 ever captured during twenty-five years' search. Possibly in 

 Mexico it may be more common, although at Mazatlan, and in the 

 mountains of the interior of Mexico, I have found Tessellata, but 

 not Scriptura. 



Genus NISONIADES. 



This is a genus of thick-bodied and stout-winged butterflies of 

 universal occurrence, dusky and unhandsome, and difficult to 

 handle when captured. This group is at present in an unsatisfac- 

 tory state, and needs revision, by a competent hand ; if the hand 

 be not competent, it is better as it is. 



