An extensive introduction to the study of butterflies includes the history of butterfly study, post-glacial colonization by butterflies, the effects of European colonization on the fauna, butterfly conservation, butterfly gardening, ecology, morphology, biology, and behavior. Each species treatment includes maps of the north-western North American distribution, color photographs of adults of all species and subspecies, and flight season graphs. Distribution maps are provided for additional species and subspecies that occur in areas adjacent to British Columbia, including Washington, northern Idaho, northwest Montana, western Alberta, and southern Yukon.