POLYOMMATUS PHLCEAS. 179 



margin. There are numerous black spots, many of which 

 have a whitish circumference. The ground-colour of 

 the hind-wings is bluish-grey, with an orange-red hind- 

 margin. Here again are many black spots, all possess- 

 ing a pale circumference. The Large Copper was not 

 subject to much variation. 



P. phlceas, Linn. (Small or Common Copper, or, 

 as Gilbert White calls it, the Small Golden Black-spotted 



POLYOMMATUS PHLCEAS 



Butterfly) (Figs. 200 to 202), at any rate appears little 

 likely to become extinct. It is a delightful little creature, 

 for besides being remarkably rich in colouring, it is 

 early on the wing, and, not content with displaying 

 its beauties in the summer, braves the rain and storms 

 of early autumn, before which most butterflies disappear. 

 The apprentice in the collector's craft will hail it with 

 delight, for not only is its flight weak, but if only 



N 2 



