All my Californian specimens agree perfectly with Dr. Boisduval’s diagnosis of S. Ariane; with the exception of one that approaches to S. Pegala, by its having only one eye-mark on the upper side of the anterior wings, but differs by the entire absence of the wide rusty band on the same. The specimen was among several undoubted S. Ariane, caught near Mono Lake, by Prof. Brewer, of the State Geological Survey. Besides the above mentioned locality, I received specimens from San Diego and Santa Cruz. Near San Francisco the species is wanting.
As to S. Sthenele and S. Sylvestris, I entertain no doubts regarding their rights as distinct species, but S. Boopis being only distinguished by the absence of the series of eyes on the under side of the hind wings from S. Nephele, may, perhaps, prove a local variety or aberration of that most polymorphous and far spread species S. Alope. In the mean time, until the connecting forms are found, I consider it to be specifically distinct.
Coenonympha Hubner.
C. Galactina. Boisd.
I consider this species as identical with C. Californica Dbld. At least I find in a long series of specimens, no point where Californica ends and Galactina begins. C. Galactina, according to Boisduval, exists also in Kamtschatka. In California it is one of the commonest species of Diurnals, and is found in the most different localities, in several generations throughout the year. There exists a second Cœnonympha in some sequestered valleys of the Northern Sierra, that approaches in its coloration, the European C. Pamphilas. I have only seen one pair of this species, and not possessing it, I can not give a diagnosis. It may be that it is identical with C. Inornata, Edw., or C. Ochracea, Edw., or some other Northern species.
Extratropical America is not rich in Satyrides, if compared to the same latitudes in Europe or Asia, and California is especially poor.
| Europe. | California. |
|---|---|
| Arge, | —— |
| Erebia, | —— |
| Chionobas, | Chionabas, |
| Satyrus, | Satyrus, |
| Pararga, | —— |
| Epinephele, | —— |
| Cœnonympha, | Cœnonympha. |
There are seven European genera, each of them represented by a whole series of species connecting different types. In California there are only three of which none is known to contain more than four species.
The Atlantic States add some tropical genera to the three genera already obtained in California, viz.: Neonympha Hubner, Hyphthima Hubner, Debis Dbld., and Calisto Hubner. The genus Calisto seems to be confined to subtropical North America; the genus Neonympha spreads in numerous species through the tropics of America, and trespasses only in a few species the Cancer; Hyphthima is found in many species in the tropics of the Old World, and it is a very curious circumstance, that one species of this essentially Gerontogeic genus should be found in the Southern States. But the two American species of the genus Debis, are even more interesting, for all other species of this genus, are confined to the Indian Archipelago.
The metamorphoses of the Satyrides, are only with difficulty to be investigated.