Pol yommatus. 4 5 



tolerably well represented in all parts of the world, though there are fewer species in Africa and 

 South America than elsewhere. The only butterfly yet described from the Galapagos Islands, 

 which are remarkable for the poverty of their fauna and flora, though lying directly under the 

 equator, is a species of this genus {P. Farrkasioides, Wallengr.). Although our species are small 

 insects, few of the tropical species surpass them in size and beauty, and many are small and 

 insignificant in comparison ; and the largest known species {P. Pryeri, Murray), which is found in 

 Japan, does not expand more than 2 inches, and is therefore not much larger than the European 

 P. lolas (Ochs.), which it resembles on the upper side. 



I. P. Areas (Rott.). — Wings dark brown above, dusted with dark blue towards the base in the 

 male, which has a row of indistinct elongated spots running across the middle of the wings above. 

 Under side uniform brown, with a row of small eyes, waved on the fore-wings and strongly arched 

 on the hind-wings, but with no other spots or markings, except the narrow discoidal lunules. 

 Expands about \\ inches. Frequents marshy meadows in Central Europe, but is absent from the 

 north-west ; it is also found in the Altai. It flies in July and August, but is not generally very 

 common. The young larva lives in the pods of Saiigicisorba officinalis in August and September. 



* 2. P. Avion (Linn.), {Large Blue). — Blue, with black hind margins, fore-wings with a black 

 lunule in the discoidal cell, and a row of oval black spots beyond it ; under side ashy grey, with a 

 much waved row of eyes across all the wings, and two marginal rows of spots. There are also 

 discoidal lunules on all the wings, and one small spot nearer the base on the fore-wings, and several 

 on the hind-wings, which latter are dusted with pale blue at the base. Expands from \\ to \\ 

 inches. Common on heaths and meadows in a great part of Europe and Western Asia from May 

 to July. It is a very local insect in England, being restricted to a few localities in Northampton- 

 shire, Devonshire, &c. The larva feeds exposed on the blossoms of the wild thyme. 



3. P. Eiipliemus (Hiibn.). — Very close to Avion, but with a row of black spots on the upper 

 side of the hind-wings in the female. Under side with no basal eye on the fore-wings, and only two 

 on the hind-wings. The central row of eyes is less curved, and the base of the hind-wings is less 

 blue. Expands about \\ inches. It is common, but local, in various parts of Central Europe in 

 July, frequenting damp meadows. The butterfly is figured at PL 14, Fig. i. 



4. P. Alcon (Fabr.). — Male purplish-blue, unspotted ; female brown, dusted with blue at the 

 base. Under side similar to Enpkeinics, but browner, and the middle row of spots is much curved. 

 Expands about i^- inches. Found on moors and meadows, near woods, in June and July in many 

 parts of Central and Southern Europe, and in the Altai, but is seldom common, and appears to be 

 almost absent from North-Eastern Germany. It has been erroneously reputed British. 



5. P. lolas (Ochs.). — Male purplish-blue, with a narrow brown border, and the costa of the hind- 

 wings brown ; in the female the hind margin of the fore-wings and the costa of the hind-wings are 

 very broadly brown. The under side is silvery grey, with discoidal lunules, and a row of eyes which 

 are not much curved on the hind-wings, and are nearly straight, and parallel to the hind margin on 

 the fore-wings. There are two basal eyes on the hind-wings (which are dusted with blue at the 

 base), but none on the fore-wings. There is a row of marginal spots on all the wings beneath, which 

 are very indistinct, except towards the anal angle of the hind-wings. Expands from i;^ to l^ 

 inches. Inhabits Europe south of the Alps, but is a rather scarce insect. It appears in June and 

 July. The larva is greenish-brown, with a black line on the back, and a broad pale band on the 

 sides. It lives in the pods of Colittca arboresccns. This insect attains a larger size than any other 

 European species of the genus. 



6. P. Melanops (Boisd.). — Male purplish-blue, with a narrow black border; female brown, with 

 the base blue. Under side grey, green at the base, with discoidal lunules, and one or two basal 



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