130 LITTLE BLUE. 



" Gay being," in revels in the concentrated sunshine which there glows 

 with an unsubdued heat such as the race of butterflies rejoices in. 



The caterpillar feeds on the milk-vetch, {Astragalus cicer.) 



The expanse of the wings is between three quarters of an inch and 

 an inch. The upper surface of the fore wings is obscure dark brown, 

 more or less glossed with blue, chiefly at the base. The hind wings 

 are likewise of a dull dark brown colour. The fringe of the wings is 

 white. 



Underneath, the fore wings are of a pale silvery ash-colour, with a 

 small black dot near the front edge, and between this and the hind 

 margin is a transverse row of small black spots with white rims, the 

 two lower being more confluent. The hind wings, which are of the like 

 ground-colour, have three or four of the eyed spots irregularly placed 

 on their inner part, beyond the middle of which is a waved row of 

 seven or eight similar spots, and on the margin is a black spot near 

 the lower corner. 



The female is duller in colour than the male. 



The caterpillar is green, with yellow lines on the sides and the 

 back. 



The figures are from one in my own cabinet, and from others in 

 tliat of ]\Ir. AUis, of Osbaldwick, near York. 



