(1) =OEneis gigas=, Butler, Plate XXVII, Fig. 1, ♂; Fig. 2, ♀ (The Greater Arctic).
_Butterfly._--This, one of the largest species in the genus, occurs on Vancouver's Island. The butterfly hides among the dark mosses and upon the trunks of prostrate trees. The males are vigilant and inquisitive, and dart out suddenly when alarmed, or attracted by passing insects. The females have a slower and more leisurely flight and are more readily taken. Expanse, 2.00-2.25 inches.
_Early Stages._--Edwards has figured the egg and the caterpillar in its first three stages, but the remaining life-history of the species awaits investigation.
(2) =OEneis iduna=, Edwards, Plate XXVII, Fig. 4, ♂ (The Iduna Butterfly).
_Butterfly._--This insect, which even exceeds _OE. gigas_ in size, is found on the Coast Range in northern California. It is decidedly lighter on the outer third of the wings than the preceding species, the male being prevalently a pale yellowish-brown, with the basal and median areas of the fore wing dark brown. On the under side the wings are somewhat lighter than in the preceding species, and the transverse lines are more distinctly marked. Expanse, 2.00-2.30 inches.
+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVII | | | | 1. _OEneis gigas_, Butler, ♂. | | 2. _OEneis gigas_, Butler, ♀. | | 3. _OEneis macouni_, Edwards, ♂. | | 4. _OEneis iduna_, Edwards, ♂. | | 5. _OEneis jutta_, Hübner, ♀. | | 6. _OEneis taygete_, Hübner, ♂. | | 7. _OEneis brucei_, Edwards, ♂. | | 8. _OEneis varuna_, Edwards, ♂. | | 9. _OEneis ivallda_, Mead, ♂. | | 10. _OEneis chryxus_, Dbl.-Hew., ♂. | | 11. _OEneis semidea_, Say, ♂. | | 12. _OEneis uhleri_, Reakirt, ♂. | | | | [Illustration PLATE XXVII.] | +--------------------------------------------------------------+
_Early Stages._--These have been most beautifully delineated by Edwards in the third volume of "The Butterflies of North America."
(3) =OEneis macouni=, Edwards, Plate XXVII, Fig. 3, ♂ (Macoun's Arctic).
[Illustration FIG. 123.--Caterpillars of _OEneis macouni_ (Riley).]
_Butterfly._--This species is closely allied to the two foregoing, but may be distinguished by the broad median band of dark brown traversing the under side of the hind wings, as well as by other peculiarities of marking. It lacks the bar of raised scales which is found in the male sex about the lower part of the cell of the fore wing in most of the species of the genus. It has been found thus far only on the north shore of Lake Superior and at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains in the territory of Alberta. Expanse, 2.00-2.25 inches.