Transactions. 3r5 



tints, and crossed by a white line on each wing. There are 

 two orange spots on the inner corner of the hind wings. I 

 once bred this species from larvae which I found in Goldielea 

 Park, by beating the large oaks with a long pole. The 

 caterpillar feeds on the oak. It is reddish brown, and 

 slightly barred with black. The buttei-fly comes out in 

 July and August. It is no easy matter to take it on the 

 wing, as it invariably keeps gambolling about on the very 

 tops of the oak trees. The only way I could take them was 

 by throwing a handful of small stones as high as I could 

 throw them, and in their descent they not only dislodge 

 them, but the butterflies will actually follow the stones down, 

 and in this way I picked them up with my net. Had I not 

 thought of this plan I could not so easily have taken Thecla 

 quercus. T. ruhi is the next species of the genus, and is a 

 very pretty little insect. It is easily distinguished from the 

 other species by the rich green colour that overspreads the 

 under surface ; the wings above are a deep warm brown. 

 The caterpillar is gi-een, spotted and striped with white. It 

 feeds on the bramble and broom. The butterfly comes out 

 in May and June, and again in August, being double 

 brooded. The genus Lycoena contains a group of very 

 eleganc butterflies. Ten species are alloted to this genus, 

 which embraces all the blues. Only three species of the 

 genus can be claimed as natives of Scotland, although some 

 ambitious collectors claim four. I never met with more 

 than three, namely, alsus, alexis, and agestis. L. alsus is 

 the smallest of all the British butterflies. The only locality 

 that I know for it is the sloping sides of the glen at Glen 

 Mills. Agestis is distinct from artaxerxes. The butterfly 

 is out in May, June, and August. L. artaxerxes is a very 

 local insect indeed. I once found a pair at the Glen Mill, 

 but only once, — Jardine Hall, Munches Hill. The best locali- 

 ty that I know for it is along the high range of hills west 

 and south-west of Dalscairth House ; it has also been taken at 

 Jardine Hall. The butterfly may be found there in July 

 and August. I may mention that the greatest rarity of the 



