Part 19

Most nearly related to N. sosybius, but readily distinguished by its much redder color, and by having but one eye-spot on the upper side of the fore wing. Expanse 1.40-1.75 inch.

Found in Texas, Arizona, Mexico, and Central America.

GENUS CŒNONYMPHA WESTWOOD

(THE RINGLETS).

Small butterflies. Costal, median, and submedian veins of fore wing strongly swollen at base. Both wings evenly rounded on outer margin. Egg conical, rounded at the bottom, truncated, with low ribs and cross-lines near the top. The caterpillar has a globular head and cylindrical body, which tapers backward from about the middle, and on the last segment has two cone-like backward projections. Chrysalis straight ventrally, convex dorsally, with a rounded keeled eminence over the thorax, pointed at the end; green or drab, marked with darker spots.

The genus is found throughout the north temperate zone, and we have in our fauna a number of species and varieties, most of which are confined to the Pacific Coast and to Alaska.

(1) Cœnonympha ochracea Edwards, Plate LXV, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Ochre Ringlet).

Glossy ochreous yellow above, without dark markings except as those of lower side faintly show through. On under side the fore wing has an eye-spot near apex, and the hind wing has a submarginal row of incomplete eye-spots, which in some specimens is wanting. Ground-color of under side of fore wings as above; of hind wings gray, interrupted about middle by a lighter band, and lighter rays about the cell near base. Expanse 1.25-1.50 inch. Ranges from British Columbia to Arizona eastward to Kansas and Nebraska.

(2) Cœnonympha inornata Edwards, Plate LXV, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Plain Ringlet).

Reddish ochraceous on upper side with outer margin of fore wings and hind wings laved with darker. On the under side there is an ocellus near the apex of fore wing and on the hind wing, which is dark gray, a yellow curved mark beyond the cell and a couple of pale yellow spots near the anal angle. Expanse 1.25-1.50 inch.

Occurs in Montana, Minnesota, Ontario north of Lake Superior, thence eastward to Newfoundland.

GENUS EREBIA DALMAN (THE ALPINES).

Rather small butterflies, dark in color, with eye-spots on the wings, most numerous on the under side. Veins of fore wing thickened at base; lower radial in some cases projected inwardly into the cell at point of origin. Outer margin of both wings evenly rounded. Egg subconical, ribbed, the ribs often intersecting each other. Larva with globular head, body tapering backward, last segment bifurcate. Chrysalis convex dorsally and ventrally, humped on thorax, produced at head, light brown or ashen gray.

The genus is arctic and confined to the far north, or to the summits of high mountains, which have an arctic climate. There are many species in the northern hemisphere, of which we select two for representation.

(1) Erebia discoidalis Kirby, Plate LXVI, Fig. 1, ♂ (The Red-streaked Alpine).

Easily distinguished from all other species in our fauna by the plain dark wings streaked on the costa and suffused over the outer three fourths of the middle of the fore wings with dark red or maroon. Expanse 1.75-2.00 inches.

Habitat region of Hudson Bay, thence westward to Alaska and southward among snowy peaks of British Columbia. Probably found on high mountains of Idaho and Montana.

(2) Erebia epipsodea Butler, Plate LXVI, Fig. 2, ♂ (The Common Alpine).

The upper side is shown in our cut; the under side repeats the markings of the upper side more or less clearly, and besides has on the hind wing a broad, curved, median, blackish band. Expanse 1.75-2.10 inches.

Ranges from the alpine summits of New Mexico northward at suitable elevations to Alaska, where it is common.

GENUS GYROCHEILUS BUTLER

(THE BLACKAMOORS).

Medium-sized butterflies, very dark in color, with eye-spots on fore wings, and hind wings bordered with brown. There is only one species found in our region, and a detailed account of its structure may therefore be spared.

(1) Gyrocheilus tritonia Edwards, Plate LXVII, ♂ (The Arizona Blackamoor).

Upper side shown in our figure. The under side is much the same, except that the submarginal band is purplish red sprinkled with white and dark brown scales, and has on the inner side a row of imperfectly developed eye-spots partially ringed about on the side of the base by yellow. Expanse 2.25-2.50 inches.

Occurs in southern Arizona and northern Mexico.

GENUS NEOMINOIS SCUDDER

For a detailed account of the structure and metamorphoses of these insects the reader is referred to “The Butterfly Book.” There are only two species found in our territory and we give figures of the upper side of both of them, so that the student will be able to recognize them when he gets them.