210 A CATALOGUE OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF 



Larva. Hiih. Gesch. Pap. II. Gens. A. b. c. 1. — Dup, Icon. i. 

 pi 5,/ 16. 

 Of this common, gay little species, there are broods in April, 

 June, and September, and it is to be met with everywhere in 

 lanes, fields, and gardens. I generally notice a few of them 

 yearly in my own suburban garden, where the larvae doubtless 

 find their pabulum in the sorrel (Rumex acetosa) occurring 

 amongst the grass of the lawn. I once met with a larva on 

 that plant in Elswick Lane, and bred the specimen. It is men- 

 tioned by Wallis (i. 354), who says, ^' The small yellowish-red 

 Butterfli/j zvith black spots, appears in shady vales and pastures in 

 the latter end of May or the beginning of June," and truly states 

 " the upper wings of a yellowish-red, glossy, and splendent, like 

 a rich sattin.'''' It is included in the Durham and Twizell lists. 



19. POLYOMMATUS, LatV. 



1. P. Argiolus, Linn. 



Papilio Argiolus, Linn. S. Nat. ii. 790. — Don. Brit. Ins. 



xiv. 39, pi. 4:d>l.— Wood. Ind. Ent. t. 2,/. 61. Pa. Acis, 



Hub. Pap. 212-21L Polyommatus Argiolus, Steph. 



Illiist. Haust. i. 85. — Staint. Man. i. 57. 



This is the earliest of our blue Butterflies. I have met with 



the males as early as the 18th April, but towards the middle of 



May it is most abundant. It frequents woods and lanes where 



the holly grows, upon which the larva feeds. It is nowhere 



more common than around Ravensworth, where that beautiful 



evergreen occurs in such luxuriance and abundance. Gibside, 



Dilston, Winlaton Mill. Darlington, and Shull. — Wm. Backhouse, 



Esq. " Woods and lanes near Durham, Castle Eden Dene, in 



May." — Ornsbifs Durham. 



No figure of the larva has been published. 



2. P. Alsus, Schiff. 



Papilio Alsus, Schiff. W. V. lU.—Hub. Pap. 278, 279.— 

 Don. Brit. Ins. ix. 73,7?/. ^"^"^^ f-'^-— Wood Ind. Ent. t. 

 2,/ 62. Polyommatus Alsus, Steph. Illust. Haust. i. 86. 

 Staint. Man. i. 57. 



