229 



AZURE BLUE BUTTERFLY 



Polyommaius Argiolus. 



PLATE XXXI. Figs. L and 2. 



Pap. Argiolus, Linn. — Lewin^ pi. 36. figs. 4, 5, 6 — Donovan, 

 xiv. pi. 481 The Azure Blue Butterfly, Harris. 



Expansion of the wings about 13 or 16 lines; 

 the surface of the male delicate light blue, slightly- 

 tinged with lilac, the wings narrowly edged be- 

 hind with black ; the female lighter blue above, 

 with a broad dusky border in the primary wings, 

 and a transverse series of spots of the same colour 

 near the hinder edge of the secondary pair. Be- 

 neath, the colour is grey, faintly tinged with blue, 

 the upper wings with a slender curved spot or streak 

 in the middle, and a posterior band of five or six 

 narrow black streaks, that next the anterior margin 

 placed by itself: the hinder wings marked in a simi- 

 lar manner, with the addition of several scattered 

 spots towards the base. The fringe on the superior 

 wings is white, interrupted with black when seen 

 from above, but on the hinder pair, and on the un- 

 der side of all, it is nearly white. The number of 

 spots varies greatly in diflferent individuals ; at times 



