116 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



dently of its larger size, it may be distinguished from 

 the Small Copper Butterfly by the pale blue underside 

 of the hind- wings. 



FAMILY IV. LYC^NID^E. 



POLYOMMATUS ARGIOLUS. THE AZURE- 

 BLUE BUTTERFLY. 



A common species throughout the south, and occur- 

 ring northwards as far as York and the Cumberland 

 Lake district ; in Ireland it is common. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1J inch. All 

 the wings are of a lilac-blue, the fore-wings being some- 

 times tinged with blackish towards the hind margin. 

 The underside of the wings is of a pale silvery blue ; the 

 fore-wings showing a marginal row of oblong black spots. 



The larva, shaped liked a woodlouse, is of a yellowish- 

 green, with a dark green dorsal line. It feeds in June 

 on the flowers of holly and buckthorn, and in October 

 on the flowers of ivy. 



The perfect insect makes its appearance in forward 

 seasons at the end of April, more generally in May ; 

 and a second brood, less numerous, may be noticed in 

 August. It is said sometimes to frequent currant 

 bushes in gardens, but may be most readily met with 

 amongst holly-bushes in woods. 



Closely allied to the preceding, but smaller and with 

 the upper surface of the wings dull-brown, only faintly 

 shot with blue, is the smallest of our native butterflies 

 the Small Blue (Polyommatus Alm<). It occurs 

 principally on chalk and limestone, and is sometimes 

 very abundant. It appears in the perfect state at the 

 end of May and in June. 



