AND TIIETR TRANSFORMATIOXS. 95 



This is ona of the rarest British species ; indeed, by some collectors its claim to be considered an indi-yeuous 

 insect is considered as doubtful. Jlr. Stephens says that Dr. Leach received fine and recent specimens from tlie 

 vicinity of Epping for several successive seasons. I believe, however, they were obtained from a dealer, who 

 persisted in keeping the precise locality secret. This, of course, he would have done whether the specimens were 

 native or obtained from abroad, as it would have diminished their value, if British, had other collectors been 

 made acquainted with the spot. It is also said to have been taken in Ashdown Forest in Sussex. It appears at 

 the end of the summer, frequenting marshy places. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIX. 



Insects. — Fig. 1. Lycsena dispar, male (the large coppei Uutteifly). 2. Tiie female. 3. Sljowiu;:; the uuder side. -1. A common variety 

 of the female. 5. Tiie Caterpillar. G. The Clirysalis. 



Plants. — Fig. 7. Iris Pscud-acoris (tlie yellow water Iris). 8. Kume.x palustris {the Marsh Doeli). 



I have devoted an entire plate to this, perhaps the handsomest, of British hmterflies, which is, moreover, interesting as an example of the 

 results of research in natural history. It was actually unknown to naturalists till very few years ago, altliouj^li the fens in Huntingdonshire and 

 parts of Camhridgeshire absolutely swarm with it in the month of July. It was supposed to he an exclusively British insect, .ind lliilincr has 

 tigured it from English specimens. But I have a specimen which I took between Rome and Naples, in the Pontine Marshes, which appears 

 perfectly identical in every respect with English specimens. Tlie caterpillar I have been enabled to publish for the first from a drawing by Mr. 

 Stephens, which he has obligingly furnished me with for the purpose. — II. N. II. 



SvNoNVMEs. — PapiHo dlspur, Hawurtii ; Kirliy and Spcme, lutrod 

 to Ent. l,pl. 3, f. l,male. 



Lycaina iHspar, Curtis, Brit. Ent. I, pi. 12 ; Duncan, Brit. Butt 

 pi. 29, fig. 1 — 2; Wood, Ind. Eut. t. 3, f. 59, male and fern, 

 Swainson, Zool. lUust. n. ser, pi. 132. 



SPECIES 8.— CHRYSOPHANUS DISPAR. THE LARGE COPPER BUTTERFLY. 



Plate xxix, tig. 1 — (i. 



Polyommatus dispar, Boisdnv.al, Icon, llistor. Lcpid. Eur. pi. 10. 

 fig. 1—3. 



Pupi/iu Ilippolhoi-, Lewio, Pap. jd. 10 ; Donovan, Brit. Ins. 

 pi. 217. 



Papilio Ilippolho'e, far., Espcr. Pap. pi. 14, fig. 1 — 2. 



This splendid species varies in the expanse of its wings from li to rather more than 2 inches. The upper 

 surface of the wings in the male is of a brilliant fiery copper colour, similar in its tone to tliat of L. Phkeas. The 

 fore wings are marked with a small black spot in the middle, and a transverse one at the extremity of the discoidal 

 cell ; between the latter and the outer margin of the wing are to be observed traces of the spots of the under side ; 

 the front margin and extremity of the fore wings are narrowly edged with black, which is broadest at the ajiex of 

 the wing. The hind wings have also a slender transverse mark at the extremity of the discoidal cell, between 

 which and the hind margin are also traces of the rows of spots of the under side : the hinder and anal margin are 

 also black ; on the margin are five black spots, the anal one being doubled. The fore wings in the female on the 

 upper side are of a darker copper colour, the base and fore margin being irrorated with brown ; on the disc are 

 eight black spots, one within and another at the extremity of the discoidal cell, the others forming a transverse bar 

 beyond the middle of the wing, the inner one being doubled. Tiie rudiment of another spot also appears near 

 the base of the wing. The black outer margin is broader than in the male. The disc of the hind wings in this 

 sex above is brown-black, more or less irrorated with copper, the veins being copper-coloured, running into a bar of 

 copper near the hinder extremity of these wings, tlie edge itself being brown with six triangular black-brown 

 spots extending into the copper bar and giving it a lobod appearance. 



On the under side both sexes are alike ; the disc of the fore wings being pale fulvous with the cgdcs ashy, 



o 2 



