ANT) THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. }qj 



of the country. South Creek, Norfolk ; Brandon Warren, Suffolk ; Dartmouth ; near Andovcr, Hants ; Bircli 

 and Darenth Woods, Kent ; and near Hertford, are mentioned by Jlr. Stephens : near Darlington, in great 

 abundance, by Mr. J. O. Backhouse; near Amesbury, Wilts, by the Rev. G. T. Rudd ; near Newcastle, by 

 Mr. Wailes ; near Durham, and in most of the northern counties of Scotland, by ;\Ir. Duncan; and in the Isle 

 of Wight, also between Woodstock and Enstone, near Cheltenham, Dover, &c., by the Rev. W. T. Bree. 



The caterpillar is green with yellow dorsal and lateral lines ; it feeds upon Astragalus Cicer, according 

 to Godart. 



SPECIES 2.— POLYOMMATUS ARGIOLUS. THE AZURE BLUE BUTTERFLY. 



Pkte .\-.^:xi. lis. 1— .3. 



Synonvmes. — Papilio Arijiolus, Linnfcus, Syst. Nat. "2, 790. 

 H.awoith ; Donovan, Britisli Insects, vol. 14, pi. 4H1. Lewin, Pap. 

 pi. 36, fig 4—6. 



Lycmna Artjiolus^ Ochsenhcinier, Leach, Samnncllc. 



PoJyommaius ArgioluSj Latreille ; Stephens ; Curtis ; Wood, Tnfl. 



Entomol. pi. 2, fig. 01. Duncan, Bril. Butt., pi. 31, fig. 1, 2. 

 Ai/riades Arrjioliis, Hiibner (Vera. hek. Schinett.) 

 Papilio Acts, Hiibner, Pap., fig. 272 — 4 

 Pnpilio Cleobis, Esper, Pap. 

 Papilio Argus marginatns, De Geer, Gen. Ins., 30, 3. 



This delicate butterfly measures from an inch and a sixth to .an incli and a half in the expansicm of its wings, 

 which in the male are, on the upper side, of a delicate light blue, with a tinge of a pinkish-blush: the costa of 

 the fore wings being still paler. At the extremity of the wings in this se.x, there is a narrow border of dark brown, 

 which colour also extends at the tips of the principal veins of the wings into the fringe which is otherwise of a 

 white colour ; in the hind wings the fringe is entirely white, preceded by a very slender dark-brown line at the 

 edge of the wings ; the base of the wings is also darker. On the under side, the wings are of a very delicate 

 greyish-white, tinged with silvery blue, especially at the base of the hind wings ; the fore wings arc marked with 

 a slender blackish transverse line at the extremity of the discoidal cell ; beyond this are five or six black spots, 

 one placed a little in advance of the others, and nearer the fore margin of the wings ; the others are more oblong 

 and placed obliquely ; that near the posterior angle being sometimes geminated ; between this row of marks 

 and the m.arsiin are several almost obsolete duskv crescents. The hind wings beneath are marked with ten or 

 twelve small black dots, placed irregularly, one of which is at the anal angle ; besides which there appear traces 

 of a submarginal row of dusky crescents above a row of dusky spots ; there is also a very slender dusky line at 

 the extremity of the discoidal cell. 



The fcnude differs from the male in being generally of a smaller size, with the blue colour of the upper side of 

 the wings .somewhat paler, but is more particularly distinguished by having the extremity of the anterior and 

 the entire outer m.irgin of the fore wings marked with a broad black or dark-bmwn border. The hind wings are 

 also marked with a submarginal row of dark brown or black spots, which are sometimes so large as to be almost 

 confluent ; the costa of these wings is also dusky. In other respects, as well as on the under ^ide of the wings, 

 there is scarcely any difference between the two sexes. The spots on the under side of the wings, as well as the 

 dusky markings of the female, vary considerably in size ; the former al.-^o differs in number in different individuals. 

 The caterpillar is pubescent, of a greenish-yellow colour, with a brinht green line down the back, the head and 

 legs being black. It feeds on the buck-thorn and holly. 



The chrysalis is smooth, brown and green, with a dark dorsal line. 



This pretty species differs materially in its habits from its congeners, frequenting gardens and plantations 



P 



