DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MELITÆA FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Melitæa Augusta.Male.—Expands from 1.6 to 1.75 inch; belongs to Chalcedon group, but is an conspicuously red as the species Chalcedon is black; upper side black, the surface nearly covered with light red and pale yellow spots, disposed as in the group; the basal areas dusted with yellow scales which, on primaries, extend along both margins; costa of same wing edged red; both hind margins bordered by small red spots, varying in shape, sometimes narrow and as of a broken stripe, sometimes more or lesss rounded to ovate; the spots of second row ar small, lunular, largest of secondaries, edged with red, the interior being yellow, or they are nearly all red with a small yellow patch in middle; sometimes this yellow is thinly washed red; the third row on primaries is either wholly yellow, or yellow with red edges, particularly on the outer side; on secondaries wholly red, and often very deep, so as to make a conspicuous broad band; the fourth row on primaries is red, sometimes with the spots next the two margins either yellow or in put yellow; around the end of cell yellow spots four or five in number; in the cell spots of red and yellow alternately, four in all, the yellow one at base more or less stained red; two yellow spots below cell with black ground between, and nearer base a small duplex red one; the fourth row on secondaries is yellow, either of small spots or pretty large ones, and the three or four from costal margin are red on their outer side; a red stripe outside the cell from the end to costal margin; two small yellow spots inside cell, with a red one between them and a yellow spot below; fringes yellow, black at the tips of the nervules.