lOy BRITISH RUTTERFMES 



row of fulvous markings on the hind wings is very distinct, the marks at the anal angle being duplicated. In 

 the centre of the hind wings is a triangular white spot, generally with a black dot in the centre, preceded, towards 

 the base, by four ocelli, placed obliquely, and betvv-een the middle ocelli of the row beyond the centre of the wing 

 and the orange spots is a white patch, there is also a slender black marginal line, and the fringe is white. 



The female differs in having the upper side of the wings brown, the disc more or less suffused with 

 blue ; there is also a submarginal row of fulvous spots, which are sometimes obsolete in the fore wings, in 

 the hind wings they are preceded by black lunulcs and succeeded by black sub-ocellated spots. On the under- 

 side the ground colour of the wings is browner than in the males, and the ocelli larger and more distinct. The 

 base in these wings is also less strongly tinged with green. The fringe in this sex is rather darker than in the 

 male, especially at the base, but not spotted, by which it is at once known from the female of P. Adonis. 

 Varieties occur in this as in the preceding species, in which the number and size of the ocelli beneath, and markings 

 on the upper side, are more or less obliterated. I possess indeed some specimens in which the opposite sides are 

 not alike in these respects. 



One of these varieties, which Jfr. Haworth thought might be a hybrid between Adonis and Alexis, has the 

 two spots towards the base of the fore wings, on the under side, oVjsolete, and the upper side of the wings of the 

 female more strongly saturated with blue. These form the species P. Hyacinthus of Lewin and llaworth. 



Others again, of very small size (not expanding more than lOi- lines), have the upper side of the wings 

 of a very pale lilac-blue, and the spots on the under side very small and pale, the inferior spot at the base 

 of the fore wings obsolete, only five spots in the curved row beyond the middle of the discoidal cell, and the 

 fulvous lunules almost obsolete, the two basal spots on the costa of the hind wings large and Ijlack. I have made 

 this descri])tion from Jlr. Kirby's original specimen on which the Polyommatus Labienus was proposed. 



PoLYOMiiATiis TnESTYLis of -Jemiyn is firmed upon largo female specimens of this species, in which the bine 

 of the upper surface of the wings is much more extended than in ordinary individuals ; " the anterior wings 

 beneath with a large kidney-shaped blackish sjiot cinctured obscurely with white, the concave side turned towards 

 the interior margin ; tlie posterior wings with the spot next the costal margin kidney-shajied ; the concave 

 side turned towards the disc ; the number of ocelli in all the wings varies considerably, and the kidney-shaped 

 spot is sometimes interrupted." 



PoLYOMMATrs Lacox of Jemiyn is another variety, in which the disc of the wings beneath is only marked 

 with a triangular spot ; the hind margin of the anterior with a few indistinct dusky marks, and of the posterior 

 with a fulvous band terminated internally with a series of black wedge-shaped spots, and externally with black 

 dots on a white ground." 



Mr. Stephens also adds that some specimens even differ in form from the rest, some of the females having the 

 anterior wings very mucli rounded at the tip ; whilst in others they are somewhat acute. In some females also 

 the disc of the wings on the upper side is entirely brovi-n, whilst in others it is nearly as blue as in the males, 

 with a black discoidal spot. 



As some of the preceding varieties appear to be constant in certain localities, Mr. Stephens informs mc that 

 he has but little dcjubt tl'.at they in fact constitute distinct sjiecies ; such is particularly the case with certain 

 individuals of the males, which have the wings very transparent, and of a more silvery blue ; and the females 

 very blue, with very distinct nd luuules adjoining the black submargiual and distinct ocelli. 



