THE Ll'.riDOFIKRA OF ESSEX. I05 



Lycaena argiolus, L. Azure Blue. 



Geographical Diitnhiition — Europe and Asia (except polar regions), North 

 Africa. Closel}' allied species in Himalaya and Xorth America. In Britain absent 

 from Scotland. 



Larva — Dark greenish-grey or bright yellowish-green (variable), dark green 

 dorsal line ; head purplish-brown. Some varieties marked with crimson on back 

 and sides. Food — Flowers of hoU}', ivy rarely, buckthorn or dogwood. Imago 

 — .-Xpril and May, July and August ; hibernates as pupa. 



P'airly common and generally distributed throughout the county, 



the spring brood being much the more abundant. [Very common in 



the holly thickets in Epping Forest and in the neighbouring gardens. 



The first time I saw the butterfly was on May ist, 1862, flitting in 



great numbers around the ivy-clad tower of old Chingford Church.^ 



B. G. 6Wd'.] 



Lycaena semiargus, Rott. Mazarine Blue. 



Geographical Distribution — Europe, North and West Asia to Amur. Local and 

 almost extinct in England ; does not occur in Scotland or Ireland. 



Mr. Joseph Clarke writes me that this rare, if not now extinct, 

 species in Britain, has been taken in the Saffron Walden district— 

 a likely locality. In a further communication he tells me there 

 are two specimens in the Museum " old collection," [Mr. Maynard 

 says five]. It was reported, doubtless erroneously, from Epping 

 Forest, August 31st, i860 {W. Banks ; Z. xviii. 7249). 



Lycaena minima, Fues. Small Blue. 



Geographical Distribution — Europe, except extreme north and south ; North 

 and West Asia to Amur. Throughout Britain. 



Larva — Pinkish-brown, flesh-colour or chocolate, darker line on back, dark 

 brown oblique dash on each segment, whitish stripe at side ; head black. Mr. 

 Hellins' description differs greatly from that of several Continental entomologists ; 

 probably the larva is very variable. Food — Flowers and seeds of vetches, especi- 

 ally kidney vetch (^Anthyllis vubierurid). Imago — June ; hibernates as larva. 



Newman says this species appears in his Essex list {B.B. 135) 

 but does not give locality. Morris says, " near Amesbury and 

 Hainhault Forest" {Hist. B.B. 138.) Mr. Joseph Clarke writes me, 

 " I caught one only against the milestone on the Debden road, a 

 mile south of Walden ; but there are eight others in the Museum 

 ' old collection,' all caught, I believe, in this district of Essex." 



Nemeobius lucina, E. Duke of Burgundy. 



Geographical Distribution — Central and West Europe, from South Sweden to 

 Balkans. In Britain, England and South-west Scotland, not Ireland. 



Larva — Reddish-brown, row of black triangular marks on back, two blackish- 



