OCR Text |
Show Rocky Monntains during his overland jonrney. They are als insects to appear in the early spring in the arctic regions. The Apidw are well represented in this collection, and have dnced in the arctic regions with remarkable fidelity. Anthophora homicides, Kirby, and Bombns borealie, Kirby, occur also in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico as basilaris, Say, found above timber- line, is a species widely dist- i to be found in the arctic regions by future collectors. A few circumpolar species of butterflies which occur also in ico, appear to be among the very rarest of the western species opa, Linn; Cynthia huntera, Fabr. ( Pyrameis huntera, Drury) Kirby. Subsequent collections will probably disclose their ex ance along a zone following the Rocky Mountains northward through the Lake Superior region to Hudson Bay and Cana ward to Oregon and Northwest British America. In a region of sparse vegetation, the Hemiptera would necess the insects of this order found in the arctic regions are repre only by the genus MirU, although Lygwus reclivaius is a spe< British America, as it is one of those singular forms appare markable vitality, which has enabled it to survive great clin quentlyto acquire extensive geographical distribution. Among the most interesting of the butterflies is Chionobas s in the Alps, Rocky Mountains, and on Mount Washington, ^ mountains of Asia maybe considered as extremely probable. by Dr. S. H. Scudderthat in the Swiss Alps it appeared to be to sustain long flights, and consequently easily taken. In our a strong, rapid flight, and is one of our most wary species, al an elevation of 14,000 feet. Colias meadiif Edw., and Argynnis freya, Esper, are truly alpi has its analogue, C. hecJa, in the Arctic regions. The southern Rocky Monntain chain appears to support some orders of insects than the northern. A season's collect Northern Colorado only produced five species of butterflies, New Mexico yielded sixteen species. The ratio of luxuriance some other orders is largely in favor of the northern moun incongruous, but which undoubtedly bears directly upon the insects. Of all orders, the Lepidoptera is the one which mos mate and bright sunshine, and any deviation from such a hal as an involuntary change, rendered obligatory by the slow s mate during ages of progress in their development. The tei of the mountains of New Mexico is considerably warmer tha tions in Colorado; the alpine flora consequently extends int Mexico, making a suitable habitat for the Lepidoptera, Hemipi the most delicate orders of insects. The Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Orlhoptera, and Arachnida, bei ingly predominate in more northern regions. A table is here presented, embodying the results observed. Hymenoptera . Lepidoptera .. Diptera Hemiptera.... Coleoptera Ortboptera . .. Arachnida. ... Myriapoda.... More abnndac Colorado. Colorado. Colorado. Colorado. Colorado. It is but quite recently that thorough alpine collections hi knowledge of this fauna is consequently not very extensive, bi to the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. The northen offers a new field for the further investigation of this subject, produce many other species to be added to the catalogue, and clusiyely the relationship existing between the alpine and tbe This report is based upon collections made by tbe writer d |