144 COMMO>} Bl.UPL 



after its birth, we find tlie margins of its wings torn and jagged, 

 the elegant blue rubbed from the wings." 



The caterpillar is found the end of April, and in July. 



It is said to feed on the wild strawberry, f Fragaria vesca,) 

 and different kinds of grasses. 



The Common Blue averages in the expanse of its wings from 

 a little over an inch to an inch and a quarter. The fore wings 

 are of a fine lilac blue, margined on the outer edge with a 

 thin black line; the fringe white. A similar description applies 

 to the hind wings. 



Underneath, the front wings are of an ash-colour; towards the 

 base is one ocellated spot, and beneath it a black line, then 

 another spot, then a transverse row of six others, and then two 

 rows of smaller and fainter ones; the lower ones of each row 

 with some pale orange marks between them; these are succeeded 

 by a narrow black thin line at the edge of the white fringe. 

 The hind wings are irrorated about the base with silvery blue, 

 and are spotted very much in the same way as the fore wings, 

 but there is a bidentine .spot below the centre, and the orange 

 spots outside this are large, continuous, and distinct, following 

 the margin of the wing. The body is clothed with long downy 

 hair, of a bluish white colour. 



In the female the blue of the fore wings is almost wholly 

 obscured with blackish brown, which latter colour forms a 

 distinct border at the outer edge, within it being a row of 

 orange spots more or less distinct in different specimens: the 

 fringe is white. The hind wings are similarly marked, except 

 that the black edge is supplanted by a narrow black line, 

 Avithin which is a blue line, with a row of black spots continuous 

 with the orange ones. 



Underneath, the markings resemble those in the male, but 

 they are brighter and more distinct. 



The caterpillar is of a bright green colour, with a dark line 

 along the back, adjoining which are rows of yellow spots. 



This species is much subject to variety, both in the number 

 and size of the eyes on the under surface of the wings, and 

 the markings on the upper, and hence has acquired many an 



