J 14 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



(fie. 2,) and lias tlio fulvous marks of the margin of the fore wings spotted with black, none of which characters 

 aoree with the true Icarius. How far Mr. Haworth's " several English specimens," which were taken in Kent, 

 agreed with the true Icarius, I have now no means of ascertaining. 



On the Continent, Icarius is found in the Pyrenees, the Piedniontese Alps, Lapland [?], Hungary, and some 

 parts of Germany. 



SPECIES 13.— POLYOMMATUS AGESTIS. THE BROWN ARGUS BUTTERFLY.. 



ri:ite xxxvi. fijr. r> — 7. 



Synonviies. — Fapilio Agestis, Wien. Vcrz., Hiihner, Pap. pi. 02, 

 f. 303, 304. 



Pohjommatns Agestis^ Jcriuyn, Stephens, Duncan, Brit. Butt., 

 pi. 34, fig. 1. Wood, Ind. Ent. t. 3, f. 9, .-ind t. 2, f. 72. 



Agriades Agestis, Hiibncr, Vcrz, bck. Sclim. 



Papi/to Idas, Lewin, Pap., pi. 30, f. 1, 2. Donovan, Brit. Ins., 

 vol. 10, 1)1. 322, f. 2. Hawortb, Jermyn (not Idas, Linn., F. S., 

 wlncli is the female of Argus). 



Lyceona Idas, Ochsenheimcr, Leach. 



Pap. Mcdon, Espcr., Pap., pi. 32, Suppl. 8, f. 1. 



We have now taken leave of the species of Polyomniatus, in which the males arc ornamented with blue 

 or purple tints on the upper surface of the wings. In both se.xcs of this species the wings are coloured alike, 

 being of a fine silken brown, with a very slender pale margin along the costa, and with a row of small bright 

 orange-coloured lunulated spots ; marked on the outside in the hind wings with small black round dots. There 

 is also a small black crescent at the extremity of the discoidal cell of the fore wings. The fringe is white or pale 

 brown, with minute dark lines at the extremity of the veins. The upper surface of the body is black, with 

 greyish hairs. The under side of the wings is of a brownish ash colour, the fore wings with a rather large and 

 very distinct white spot generally inclosing a smaller black one at the extremity of the discoidal cell, succeeded 

 by a Strom/!// curred row of five or six (the inner one when present being minute and duplicated) similar ocelli. 

 These are succeeded by the same number of fulvous patches edged within vv'ith a brown curve, and marked next 

 the margin with a brown spot. The margin is slender, and blackish brown, dilated at the tips of the veins, and 

 white within, and the fringe white, slightly marked with brown at the extremity of the veins. The hind wings 

 are tinted with blue at the base, which is marked with three ocelli ; the discoidal white spot is transverse-oval, 

 and emits a small branch behind ; it is but slightly marked with black in the centre ; beyond this is a curved and 

 irregular row of eight white spots, varying in size (the middle ones being confluent), each of which has a black dot 

 in the centre. Then follows a row of slender, black, pointed .arches, edged within with a slender white line, and 

 externally bearing a row of ftdvous patches succeeded by a row of white, connected, transverse-oval spots, each 

 bearing a small black dot ; the margin is very slender, and black, and dilated at the extremity of the veins. 



The female diflcrs in not being so intensely brown on the disk of the wings, and in having the fulvous band of 

 spots larger and more distinct, extending to the front margin of the fore wings, and more strongly marked with 

 black spots on the hind wings. Varieties occur in the number of the spots on the under side of the wing.s, and in 

 the size and extent of the row of fulvous s]iots. 



The expansion of the wings in this species varies from an inch to .an inch and a quarter. 



This species appears to be double-brooded ; JMay and June, and .Inly .and August, being the times of its 

 appearance in the winged state. It is found in most of the southern counties of England in tolerable abundance, 

 as well as in various localities in Norfolk and the adjacent counties. The most northerly recorded situation is 

 Seaham Dean, near Sunderland. 



