138 CLIFDEN BLUE. 



Mare, in Somersetshire. It too frequents the districts of the chalk 

 formation. 



It appears to be double-brooded, some appearing at the end of 

 May, and others in the middle of August. 



The expanse of the wings is from an inch and a quarter to nearly 

 one and a half. The fore wings are of a splendid polished azure blue, 

 the fringe white, intersected by the veins, edged interiorly by an 

 attenuated black line. The hind wings are of a similar appearance. 



Underneath, the fore wings are of a dark ash grey, with one eyed 

 spot towards the base, then a large dark one near the centre, then a 

 waved row of six, and then two other faint rows. The hind wings 

 are powdered with silvery blue at the base; near the front margin are 

 three eyed spots, and below these two others; the outer one near the 

 centre with a larger white circumference, and a comet-like tail pointing 

 downwards. Between these and the outer margin are two rows of eyed 

 spots, the inner one irregular, and with a white patch about its middle, 

 the outer one following the black line which meets the margin, and is 

 followed by the white fringe. Between the two rows are some pale 

 orange marks with white crescents on their inner edge. 



The female has the fore wings of a dark brown colour, the base 

 sometimes marked with blue. There is a white spot near the centre 

 towards the front edge, with a black speck on it. The fringe is pale 

 buff white, chastely striated on the upper portion with blackish brown, 

 and within it is an obscure row of dark dots, tipped interiorly with 

 faint dull white. The hind wings are similarly marked, but there is 

 more blue on their inner portion, and there is a row within the margin 

 of black dots, some of them set in orange, and within these a row of 

 small angular-shaped blue specks. 



The caterpillar is described as being green, with rows of fulvous 

 spots along the back. 



This butterfly also varies in the number, size, and situation of the 

 spots on the under side, and in some specimens those on the one side 

 do not even correspond with those on the other. 



The figures are from specimens in my own cabinet. 



