92 LEPIDOPTERA. 



7. P. Alsus, ScJiiff., Fab.; minima, Staud. Cat. — Ex- 

 panse, 1 inch. Brown, under side pale grey, with a few black 

 dots. (The smallest British butterfly.) 



Dull smoky brown ; in the male shot faintly with glistening 

 blue ; female of a darker brown. Under side ashy grey, bluish 

 at the base. Fore wings with a central black streak, and a 

 row of pale-edged small black spots beyond it. Hind wings 

 with a faint central dark streak, and from six to twelve black 

 dots, which are sometimes ringed with whitish. 



Variable in size, — some specimens not being much more 

 than half the normal dimensions, — and also in the number 

 of spots on the under side, which is occasionally almost imma- 

 culate. There is also local variation in the colour of the 

 upper side in the male, the suffusion of blue being decidedly 

 greater in those from the north and west of Ireland. 



End of May and through June. 



Larva, when full grown, one-third of an inch in length. 

 Dorsal region much rounded, and studded with raised dots 

 bearing longish hairs or bristles, those on each side of the 

 dorsal line so elevated as to give it a depressed appearance. 

 A lateral ridge hides the feet and makes the ventral region 

 appear flattened. Colour pinkish or brownish pink ; dorsal 

 line darker; sub-dorsal lines composed of oblique brown 

 dashes ; lateral ridge with a whitish stripe, which is continued 

 round the anal extremity. When young, deeper flesh colour, 

 or brownish chocolate, with the markings similar. On 

 Anfhi/IIis vvlncrajia (hadiea' Finger or Kidney Vetch), on the 

 flower head, eating through the calyx and corolla, and 

 devouring the immature seed-vessel. It feeds in the latter 

 part of June and through July, then retires to the under side 

 of some neighbouring object, where it settles down, remaining 

 in the same place, without change, thi'ough the rest of the 

 summer, autumn, and winter, and until May of the following 

 year (in confinement until June), before changing to pupa, 

 which state lasts about three weeks. (Hellins and Buckler.) 



