LARGE BLUE. 135 



Underneath, the colour is dark grey; the black oblong spots 

 are replaced by rounded ones, with white orbits, and two rows 

 of smaller dots of a similar character follow the black line that 

 bounds the outside of the wing, which is succeeded by a white 

 fringe: the base of these wings is blue. The hind wings are 

 much spotted, and their base is blue considerably diffused; 

 two irregular rows of black spots, with white edges, run across 

 the middle part, and there is one single one near the base; 

 a double row of black angular-shaped spots, based with whitish, 

 follows the outside marginal line: the fringe whitish. 



The female is of a duller colour than the male, the spots 

 larger and more numerous, and the dark margin of the wings 

 broader. 



This insect varies very much in the number and size of the 

 spots. Some specimens are almost wholly immaculate, and others 

 are gradually spotted 'seriatim' more and more till the wings 

 are strikingly marked. 



The figures are from specimens in my own cabinet. 



