PLATE XXVILI. 
No. 1.—The Clifden Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus No. 6.—The Common Blue Butterfly, showing the 
Adonis). Under side. 
No. 2.—The Female of the Clifden Blue Butterfly. No. 7.—An Hermaphrodite variety of the Common 
No. 3.—The Clifden Blue Butterfly, showing the Blue Butterfly. 
Under side. No. 8.—The Caterpillar of the Common Blue Butter- 
No. 4.—The Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus fly. 
Alexis). No. 9.—The Chrysalis of the Common Blue Butter- 
No. 5.—The Female of the Common Blue Butterfly. | fly. 
PoOLYOMMATUS ADONIS (the Clifden Blue Butterfly, No. 1). This insect, in so far as the 
colour is concerned, is the most beautiful of the “Blues.” The azure of the upper surface of 
both pair of wings is of the most delicate silvery blue, the effect of which is at the same time 
heightened and refined by the snowy whiteness of the fringe. 
The female (No. 2) has the upper surface of the wings of rich deep brown, but having to- 
wards the base a flush of rich violet blue, which is much brighter and more distinct in some 
specimens than in others. The upper surface of the wings of the female is also distinguished by 
borders of a lighter colour, containing a row of black spots; the borders of the hind wings 
being of a dusky orange colour, while those of the anterior wings are merely of a pale brown. 
It is rather difficult to distinguish the female of this species from that of P. Corydon, but P. 
Corydon has a black spot on the upper surface of the hind wings which is absent in Adonis. 
The female has also, occasionally, white specks in the centre of the fore wings. 
The under side (No. 3) is very delicately enriched with the usual ocelli, and is distinguished 
from that of P. Corydon by the small and more delicate character of both ground colour and 
markings. 
The Caterpillar, according to Freyer, is of the usual onisciform character; of dark green 
colour, with two rows of short yellow streaks on the back, and a yellow longitudinal stripe at 
each end. Ochsenheimer describes it as feeding on several species of pea-flowered plants, 
The perfect insect appears in May and June, and is chiefly found in chalky districts. 
Dartford, in Kent, was formerly a favourite locality with London collectors for this beautiful 
insect. It has been recently taken at Brighton in great abundance. 
Polyommatus Alexis (the Common Blue Butterfly, No. 4). This, though one of the most 
abundant of our native Butterflies, common in almost every district of the country, is a remark- 
ably pretty insect ; and though inferior to P. Adonis or P. Arion, has yet beauties of its own 
which seldom fail to attract even the uninitiated observer. The blue of the upper surface of the 
wings has a soft and rich lilac tinge, which is very pleasing ; and the texture is of a silky cha- 
racter, which shows off the colour to the greatest advantage. The one represented at No. 4 is 
rather a dark specimen, the colour varying considerably in different individuals. The female 
(No. 5) has the upper surface of the wings brown, with ochreous borders spotted with black, and 
with a slight flush of blue towards the base. The under side represented at No, 6 is of the 
usual character, and like that of all the other species nearly alike in both sexes. 
