SOME OBSERVATIONS ON LYCASNA ARGIADES. 7 
on the contrary, barely managed to linger on in one or two 
favourable spots, where it still exists as a waning remnant of the 
original stock. 
It is probable that this species occupies other exceedingly 
small holdings in our south-western counties than those to which 
reference has been made, but it is also probable that it does not 
enjoy the undisputed possession of such holdings. Some one or 
other of its congeners will still endeavour to crowd it out. 
My view regarding the origin of Lycena argiades in England 
is necessarily of a speculative character, but the present known 
distribution of the species is the basis upon which I have founded 
that view. On the Continent ZL. argiades has a range co-extensive 
with that of L. bellargus and L. corydon. This being the case, there 
does not appear to be any great improbability in supposing that 
when L. bellargus and L. corydon extended their range into 
England so also did LZ. argiades. Why this last species is not 
now so abundant in England as its co-migrant I have endeavoured 
to show. 
I should add that the individuals of the first, or spring, brood 
of Lycena argiades are smaller than those of the second, and, 
where it occurs, third brood. This form has been named poly- 
sperchon. There is also a variety occurring with the type, and 
differing therefrom in the absence of the orange spots of the 
under sides. It is named coretas. 
Mr. Pickard-Cambridge informs us that when on the wing L. 
argiades is very like “a slightly worn or dull example of L. icarus”’ 
on the one hand, and typical LZ. @gon on the other. On a closer 
examination the only “blue” occurring in England with which it 
is hkely to be confounded is Lycena betica. 
In considering the probable origin of L. betica in Britain, I 
attach, as in the case of L. argiades, primary importance to the 
present geographical distribution of the species. It is found 
throughout Africa, but more particularly North and South; at the 
Cape of Good Hope it is very common. From Africa the range 
extends north and west everywhere south of the Alps, and 
eastwards through Western Asia into Central India. Occasionally 
it is found in places outside these limits, as, for instance, in 
the Islands of Madeira and Ascension, Switzerland, Germany, 
Belgium, the North of France, the Channel Islands, and also in 
En gland. 
