Vil 



BRIGHTON ARGUS. 



PLATE LVI. 



Lyc(B7ia Bcelica, Auctorum. 



Nothing i« more curious in the whole range of natural history 

 than the way in which certain insects, as well as certain birds and 

 animals, exclusively belong to particular countries, or to particular 

 districts of such countries. Some are peculiar to one continent, 

 some to another; some to this island, some to that; few indeed, if 

 any, are of universal distribution, and though some are met with in 

 divers quarters of the earth, yet by far the greater majority "have 

 their "bounds which they do not pass," or if they do so on some 

 occasion or in particular instances, the exception only proves the 

 rule, which is all the other way. 



The insect before us is an instance of this. It is seen on the 

 opposite coast of France, and in various parts of the continent of 

 Europe, as likewise in the Channel Islands, on which account also it 

 has a claim to a place on our list of native insects. 



It has been taken twice, and as yet twice only, in this country; 

 on the former of the two occasions by Mr. Mc' Arthur near the Chalk 

 Downs, in the neighbourhood of Brighton, on the 5th. of August. 



That is the month for the appearance of the perfect insect. 



The fore wings are of a dull brownish black colour, with a patch 

 of iridescent purple on the middle part. 



The hind wings are of a dull fulvous brown colour, with a tint 

 of dull blue on the inner side, and three black spots on the lower 

 corner, the centre one larger than the others, and very distinct, with 

 a white vein round it; the others more dull in each of these 

 respects. There are short tails to these wings after the fashion of the 

 Hairstreaks. 



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