PLATE XXITII. 
No. 1.—The Copper Butterfly (Chrysophanus Phileas). No. 8.—The Purple-edged Copper Butterfly (Chry- 
No. 2,—The Copper Butterfly, showing the Under sophanus Chryseis). 
side. No. 9.—The Female of the Purple-edged Copper 
No. 3.—The Caterpillar of the Copper Butterfly. Butterfly. 
No. 4.—The Chrysalis of the Copper Butterfly. No. 10.—The Purple-edged Copper Butterfly, show- 
No. 5.—The Dark Under-winged Copper Butterfly ing the Under side. 
(Chrysophanus Hippothoé). No. 11.—The Caterpillar of the Scarce Copper But- 
No. 6.—The Female of the Dark Under-winged Copper terfly. (The Butterfly in Plate xxiv.) 
Butterfly. No, 12.—The Chrysalis of the Scarce Copper Butter- 
No. 7.—The Dark Under-winged Copper Butterfly, fly. (The Butterfly in Plate xxiv.) 
showing the Under side. 
THE genus Chrysophanus, which follows Thecla in the beautiful family of Lycenide, is so 
distinct from its predecessor in many respects, that it would seem almost to mark the commence- 
ment of a new family. The Theclas, so peculiar in regard to the superior brightness of the 
colouring of the females, and also in the taillike appendage to the hind wings which is always 
present in good typical species, which seem to distinguish them as a separate family, might be 
denominated the Theclide ; while the genus Chrysophanus, along with Polyommatus, might be 
formed into a separate family by Swainson’s title of the Polyommatide, as both genera exhibit 
the numerous eye-like ringed spots on the under surface of the wings, to which the descriptive 
generic name Polyommatus is applied. It is true that Swainson’s Polyommatide included the 
Theclas, which might however be separated, reserving the family title only for the two genera to 
which its meaning applies. This, however, is a mere suggestion to the collector to incite him to 
consider any system of classification with regard to its merits, and not receive it without exami- 
nation ; for I am bound in this volume to the system now adopted in the British Museum, as 
announced in my introduction. The chief character of the genus Chrysophanus may be described as 
follows : First, the rich gold-like colouring of the wings of the males, which has given rise to the 
name Chrysophanus, compounded of two Greek words, xeusts (gold), and guiw (to appear). The 
metallic golden hue is, however, of a deep red tone, which has suggested to our native collectors 
the popular name of “Coppers.” Secondly, the slight pointing of the hind wings, which in the 
first species, Phlwas, extends into a short tail, which makes that species form a convenient grad- 
ation from the genus 7hecla to the present genus. Thirdly, the wings of the males are the most 
brilliantly coloured, those of the females being of more dusky tone, and always varied by black 
spots which (with the exception of the very distinct species C. Phi@as) never occur in those of 
the males, Fourthly, the Caterpillars, though more or less onisciform, are longer and not so 
much flattened as in the genera Thecla and Polyommatus. There are several other minor ana- 
tomical characters connected with the knobs of the antenne, the form of the palpi, and the veining 
of the wings, the detailed description of which would be out of place in a strictly popular work. 
Chrysophanus Phileas (the Copper, No. 1). This pretty species is common in all parts of 
the country. There is no difference in the markings of the two sexes in this species, though 
they are so distinct in the others of the genus ; the hind wings have also short tails resembling 
those of the Zheclas, as stated above. 
