"Grapta California," remarked Brown to me.
"Vanessa asteriska" I corrected him. "Note the anal angle of the secondaries and the argentiferous discal area bordering the subcostal nervule."
"The characteristic stripes on the primaries are wanting," he demurred.
"It is double brooded. The summer form lacks the three darker bands."
A few moments' silence was broken by the voice of Miss White.
"I had no idea," she remarked, "that Alaskan guides were so familiar with entomological terms and nomenclature."
We both turned very red.
Brown mumbled something about having picked up a smattering. I added that Brown had taught me.
Perhaps she believed us; her blue eyes rested on us curiously, musingly. Also, at moments, I fancied there was the faintest glint of amusement in them.
She said: