ON THE HABITS OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 33 



unfreqnently found in the localities frequented by the 

 Purple Emperor. 



Of the blue butterflies, the common Blue (P. Alexis) 

 is very generally distributed, occurring in every lane 

 and meadow throughout the country. On sandy heaths 

 P. jffigon is equally plentiful. In chalky localities we 

 meet with the loveliest of all our blues, P. Adonis, 

 also P. Cory don, and P. Agestts ; the Scotch form of the 

 latter insect (P. Artaxcrxes) is to be found on the slopes 

 of many Scotch hills amongst Helianthemum vulgare. 

 Of the Skippers, some, as Thymele alveolus, Pamphila 

 sylvanus, and P. linea, are common wood-insects ; whereas 

 Thanaos Tages and Pamphila comma are most fre- 

 quently observed on the dry slopes of chalk hills. 

 Pamphila Actseon still occurs in its headquarters at 

 Lul worth, in Dorsetshire, and we trust those who go in 

 search of it will remember to leave a few to keep up the 

 brood. 



Of the Sphinges, or Hawk Moths, the Foresters and 

 Burnets frequent dry grassy slopes, flying heavily in 

 the sunshine. The species of the genus Smerinthus 

 (the Eyed Hawk Moth, the Poplar Hawk Moth, the 

 Lime Hawk Moth) fly at dusk, but in the daytime 

 they may frequently be noticed at rest on palings or 

 on the trunks of trees. The true Sphinges (S. convol- 

 vuli and 8. ligustri) fly with extreme velocity at even- 

 ing dusk, and with their long tongues extract the 

 honey from tubular flowers, without settling on them, 

 whilst poised in the air above them. The species of the 

 genera Deilephila and Chserocampa have similar habits. 

 The Humming-bird Hawk Moth buzzes in a similar 

 way at the flowers of honeysuckle, etc., in the bright 

 sunshine, as well as in the evening ; and the two Bee 



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