188 BEITISH BUTTERFLIES 



The Small Copper (Polyommatas Phlceas) 



The only other British member of the genus Polyommatus the 

 Small Copper is one of the commonest of our butterflies. It may 

 be found in nearly all parts of the British Isles from April to Sep. 

 tember, more particularly in April, June, and August, for it is 

 apparently triple brooded. 



This brilliant and lively little insect is shown on Plate VI 

 (fig. 9), and, being so very familiar, needs no description. 



The caterpillar feeds on different species of dock the broad- 

 leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), the fiddle dock (R. pulcher), 

 the sorrel (R. acetosa), and the sheep sorrel (R. acetosella) ; also on 

 the ragwort (Senecio- Jacobcea). It is full fed about three weeks 

 after hatching, and then, changes to a small and stout chrysalis, of 

 a pale brown colour, on the leaf of its food plant. 



The caterpillar itself is green, with a reddish line on the back 

 and on each side ; and it glides over the surface of the leaves some- 

 thing after the manner of a slug, without exhibiting any very 

 apparent motion of its short legs and claspers. 



The Tailed Blue (Lijccena Bestica) 



We now come to a genus containing no less than ten species of 

 beautiful little butterflies, known commonly as the ' Blues ; ' but 

 one of them exhibits no trace of the colour so characteristic of the 

 group, although it resembles the others in structure and habits. 



Our first example is the Tailed Blue, 

 known also as the Pea-pod Argus. The upper 

 side of this insect (Plate VI, fig. 10) is of a 

 dull smoke colour, exhibiting purple-blue re- 

 flections, which are, in the female, confined 

 to distinct blotches on the bases of the wings, 

 but in the male are less noticeable, and 

 FIG. 87. THE TAILED extend over the whole surface. The hind 

 BLUE UNDER SIDE, margin of the hind wings has a row of spots, 

 more or less distinct, and much more promi- 

 nent in the female than in the male. The under side is beautifully 

 marked with bands of fawn and grey, and with two spots of brilliant 

 metallic green in the anal angle of the hind wings. 



This butterfly abounds in the countries of South Europe, where 

 the caterpillar feeds on the pods of certain leguminous plants ; but 



