52 EuRorF.Ah^ Butterflies and J'Joti/s. 



discoidal lunules are large and black ; fore-wings with no basal eyes, but with a curved row of six 

 basal spots, of which the fifth is placed nearer the base, and the sixth in a line with the others, 

 but very small. Hind-wings with the central row consisting of eight rather large spots, the sixth 

 placed nearer the base than the others, and three basal spots within the discoidal lunule. The 

 outer black spots on the under side of the hind-wings are rarely dusted with green scales. 

 Expands about i inch. Inhabits the steppes of South Russia in May. {P. Cyane, Eversm., 

 which Staudinger considers a variety of this, is larger, and the female has marginal white spots, 

 and is blue at the base. It is also a South Russian species.) 



38. P. Zephyrus (Friv.). — Very similar to Pylaon, which may be only a variety, but is rather 

 larger. Male purplish-blue in the type, and greenish-blue in variety Hesperica (Ramb.). Female 

 brown. Anal angle of hind-wings with about three black dots, marked with orange in the female, 

 but rarely with whitish or bluish. Spots of the under side rather smaller than in Pylaon, and 

 those nearest the hind margin of the hind-wings generally very slightly marked with green scales. 

 Found from May to July in Turkey, Greece, and Asia Minor ; Hesperica occurs in Andalusia. 



39. P. Optilete (Knoch.). — Male dark purple, with a narrow black border ; female brown, 

 purplish at the base, hind-wings with an orange spot at the anal angle. Under side grey, fore- 

 wings with no basal eyes ; the central row of eyes near the hind margin. All the wings with a 

 double row of marginal black spots ; the outermost spots towards the anal angle of the hind-wings 

 are dusted with brilliant blue, and marked with one or two orange spots. Expands about i inch. 

 Common in Northern, Eastern, and Alpine Europe, but absent from the north-west. It occurs 

 on peat bogs in June and July, but is a mountain insect in the Alps. The variety Cyparissus 

 (Hiibn.) which is found in Lapland, is smaller, with the under side paler. Larva pale green, with 

 short reddish hairs, and a white stripe on the sides bordered with white ; head blackish-brown. It 

 feeds on Vacciniiun oxyococc2cs from autumn to May. 



■'40. P. Aigon (W. v.), (Silvcr-stttdded Blue) . — Male blue, with a brown border; female brown, 

 with the base blue, and marginal red spots on the hind-wings. Under side bluish-grey in the 

 male, or brown, with the base bluish, in the female. A marginal row of large orange spots, and 

 three rows of black eyes, the outermost dusted with metallic blue on the hind-wings. The front 

 pair of tibia; have a short spine at the ends. Expands about i inch. Common in most parts of 

 Europe and Asia Minor from May to August, on heaths, meadows, &c. Larva slender, green 

 or brown, with a reddish-brown line on the back, bordered with lighter, and a white streak on the 

 sides ; head black. It feeds on clover, vetch, &c., in May and June. 



41. P. Argjts (Linn.). — Very like Agon, but generally a little larger, with the black border 

 narrower in the male ; female bluer, and with less distinct orange spots. Under side generally less 

 blue at the base and with smaller spots; but both species are variable, and the only certain distinction 

 between them is the want of spines at the end of the front tibia; in Argiis. Its range is similar 

 to that of yEgon, but it is scarcer and more local, especially in North-Western Europe, and it is not 

 found in Britain. It frequents similar localities in June and July. The larva is green, with a dark 

 stripe on the back bordered with paler, a reddish-brown streak and white oblique stripes on the 

 sides, and a blackish head. It feeds on broom, clover, &c., in May and June. The butterfly is 

 figured at PI. 14, Fig. 10. 



42. P. TrocJiihis (Freyer). — Brown ; hind-wings with two or three black spots, partially 

 surrounded with orange, near the anal angle. Under side pale grey, with the usual row of eyes ; 

 fore-wings with no basal spot ; hind-wings with three or four black marginal eyes towards 

 the anal angle, surrounded with orange, and brilliantly dusted with gold outside. There are 

 several white lines on the outside of all the U'ings. Inhabits Turkey and Asia Minor in Jul)- and 



