194 BBITISH BVTTEBFLIES 



This pretty butterfly seems to have been plentiful in several 



localities some years since, but has not been seen for a long time ; 



and it is probable that its reckless 



slaughter bj' those who catch all 



the pretty butterflies they can secure 



either for ornament or for gain has 



caused its name to be permanently 



. ■ 'V- removed from our list of natives. 



■ v.//<r H4>''''' It was formerly abundant in Dor- 



FiG. 93. — The Mazarine set, Hereford, Glamorganshire, and 



Blue Under Side. near Shirley, and was on the wing in 



June and -Tuly, but it disappeared 



from our view before a full accoiint of its life history had been 



prejjared. 



The SmaU Blue {Lyccena Minima) 



AYe now come to the smallest of all British butterflies — a little 

 insect that measures less than one inch from tip to tip when its 

 wings 're expanded. Its upper surface is of a dull and dark-brown 

 colour, the bases of the wings being dusted with blue in the case of 

 the male. The under side is pale drab, tinged with greenisli blue 

 at the bases of tlie wings, and marked with black spots in light 

 rings as shown in the accompanying figure. 

 The upper side is represented in fig. 7 of 

 Plate VII. 



This butterfly is on the wing in ]\Iay 

 ■^^ '^W-^ and June, and during the latter montli 



Fig. 94.— The Small the eggs are deposited on the flowers of 

 Blue— Under Side. the lady's fingers (AnthyUis vnlneraria). 



The caterpillars are hatched in about a 

 week, and commence feeding on tlie calyx of the buds, and soon 

 burrow into them till they are quite concealed. 



The colour of the caterpillar is brownish, with a darker stripe 

 on the back, and a row of oblique brown streaks on each side. 



This species is widely distributed in England, and is plentiful 

 in most chalky and limestone districts. It is also found in parts of 

 Scotland and Ireland. 



Tlie Large Blue {Lyccrna Arion) 



Tlie last of our Blues is the largest of the genus, and is, witli 

 the exception of Scmiargus, the rarest. It is a very local insect. 



