LYC^ENA ARION. 203 



in the male. On each wing is a pale discoidal streak. 

 The fore-wings also bear a row of seven small, white- 

 edged black spots, while the hind-wings have about 

 eleven of a similar nature scattered somewhat irregularly 

 over each wing. 



L. arion, Linn. (Large Blue) (Figs. 238 and 239), is 

 a local butterfly, and by no means common where it 

 occurs at all. It may be sought for on rough, broken 

 ground on hill sides, in old quarries, on flowery 

 commons, and in other similar spots. Should arion be 



LYCLENA ARION. 



sighted, an easy capture will probably be made, for its 

 flight is somewhat weak. Its large size and dark 

 appearance will easily distinguish it on the wing from 

 the rest of the Blues. 



The imago appears at the end of June or beginning 

 of July, and the eggs are laid about the same time on 

 Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum\ usually on the flowers. 

 They hatch in about a week, but little appears to be 

 known of the larva or pupa, and it is not certain in 

 what state the insect passes the winter. 



L. arion unfortunately seems to be dying out in 



