162 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



seen specimens from various parts of the country, that 

 include every intermediate variety between the ordinary 

 Agestis of the south, and the Artaxerxes of Scotland. 

 The Durham Argus, formerly called P. Salmacis, forms 

 one of these gradations. 



Against the idea of Agestis and Artaxerxes being one 

 species, it has been objected, that the former is double, 

 the latter single brooded. What of that ? Plenty of 

 species that are double-brooded in the south of Europe 

 are well known to become single-brooded in a more 

 northern situation. 



The caterpillar is said to be exactly like that of 

 Agestis. It feeds on Helianthemum vulgarc (Eock 

 Cistus). 



The butterfly is found in July and August in several 

 parts of Scotland^ and the north of England. Arthur's 

 Beat, Edinburgh, has been long noted for producing it. 



THE SKIPPEKS. (Family Hesperidce.) 



curious little butterflies form a very natural 

 group ; in many respects, both of structure and habits, 

 approaching the moths, and therefore placed at the end 

 of the butterflies. They are of small size, but robust 

 appearance, and not brightly coloured. Their flight is 

 rapid, but of short continuance, and they eeem to skip 



