THE HAIESTBEAKS, COFFEES AND BLUES 189 



only a few stragglers have been taken in England, so that its repu- 

 tation as a true Britisher is very uncertain. It is highly probable 

 that the two or three specimens caught on our south coast were 

 blown over from the Continent, and that the insect has never bred 

 on this side of the Channel. 



The Silver-studded Blue (Lyccena JEgon) 



The upper surface of the male (Plate VI, fig. 11) of this species 

 is purple blue, with a black border on the hind margins of all wings. 

 The female (fig. 12 of the same plate) is of a very dark smoky-brown 

 colour, often with a bluish tinge, and has generally a row of orange 

 spots near the hind margin of the hind wings. 



The under side of both sexes is similar, and is illustrated in the 

 accompanying woodcut. The ground colour is bluish grey, and is 

 marked with a number of black spots 

 surrounded by light rings. Along the 

 hind margin of the hind wings is a row 

 of orange spots, each bordered with black 

 on the inner side, and with a silvery 

 blue on the outer. 



This insect appears in July, and is -p 



common in many dry, sandy, or chalky ^HE SILVER - STUDDED 

 spots in various parts of England, and BLUE UNDER SIDE. 

 also in a few localities in Scotland and 



Ireland. It has been reported as abundant at Darlington and in 

 certain localities in Lancashire, but its head quarters are un- 

 doubtedly the chalk downs and dry gravelly banks of the southern 

 counties. 



The caterpillar feeds on the bird's-foot (Ornitliopus perpusillus}, 

 and is full grown towards the end of June. Its colour is yellow or 

 grey, with a brown dorsal stripe, a white line on each side, and 

 pale oblique lines near the former. About the end of June it changes 

 to a dull green chrysalis, with projecting wing cases. 



The '-Brown Argus (Lyccena Astrtirclie) 



Neither male nor female of this species exhibits any trace of 

 blue. The upper surface, shown in fig. 13 of Plate VI, is coloured 

 with a warm brown, and all four wings have a row of orange spots 

 near the hind margin. The fore wings have also a central black 



