118 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



the underside the fore-wings have two black spots 

 before the central black spot, and the hind-wings have 

 a row of red spots towards the hind margin. 



The larva feeds on various papilionaceous plants in 

 May and June. 



The perfect insect is on the wing at the end of July 

 and during August. 



In company with it we frequently find the soberer 

 looking Chalk-hill Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus Cory- 

 don) of which the male has the upper side of the wings 

 of a pale silvery blue ; those of the female are light 

 brown, and it is by no means easy to separate the 

 female of Corydon from the female of P. Adonis. 



FAMILY IV. LYC^NID^. 



POLYOMMATUS ALEXIS. THE COMMON 

 BLUE BUTTEKFLY. 



Throughout the country, this pretty little insect 

 enlivens every meadow, every green lane, and many a 

 hillside, from May to September. 



The expansion of the wings is about IJinch. In the 

 male all the wings are of a lilac-blue, with the fringes 

 white, unchequered. In the female the wings are lilac- 

 blue tinged with brown, and along the hind margin is 

 a row of distinct orange spots. 



On the underside of the fore-wings there are two 

 small black spots before the central black spot, and the 

 hind-wings have a row of red spots towards the hind 

 margin. 



The larva (shaped like a woodlouse) is rather dark- 

 green, with short brown hairs, which give it a velvety 

 appearance. The dorsal line is darker, and on the sides 



