46 THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



or a deeper blue. The wings underneath are of a pearly- 

 gray color dotted with black, and on the margin is the 

 appearance of fine lace-work. Under a magnifying-glass 

 it presents an exquisite appearance. This butterfly is not 

 very common. Sometimes I have seen only one or two 

 during the whole season. It loves sunny, warm places, 

 and as it flies low and is not very shy, it is easily captured. 

 It comes out the middle of June. 



" The Polyommatus Lucia butterfly 

 resembles the Azure-blue so closely 

 that one is scarcely distinguishable 

 from the other. The former is a 



little the smaller, and of a more 

 Polyommatus Lucia. 



purplish blue. The black border on 



the fore wings is not quite so broad, and the black spots 

 on the under side are a little larger. This butterfly may 

 be found all Summer, hovering over the low bushes in 

 our pastures. It is not very common. 



"There is one more of the genus Polyommatus which 

 you can easily distinguish from those I have already de- 

 scribed by a little fine tail on the hind wings. The wings 

 are violet blue, with black dots on the hind margin. On 

 the hind pair near the edge are two orange-colored cres- 

 cents. On the under side the wings are gray, marked with 

 black dots, and the two orange-colored spots have a black 

 centre surrounded with a blue ring. This butterfly, which 



