BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 187 



common in lanes and on heaths and downs at mid- 

 summer, especially in chalky districts. The under 

 surface of the wings is very prettily spotted and 

 marked, with scarcely a tint of blue, that colour 

 being reserved for the upper surface. There is only 

 one really woodland species, called the "Azure Blue," 1 

 and that is chiefly confined to the South of England 

 and Ireland. The caterpillar feeds upon the flowers 

 of the holly and ivy. 



A little copper-coloured butterfly 2 is often seen 

 in company with the commoner blue ones, and some- 

 times without them, since it is found almost every- 

 where. It is scarcely more than an inch in expanse 

 of wing, but often compensates in numbers for what 

 is wanting in size. 



A large, sluggish butterfly is sometimes to be seen 

 flying about even whilst the snow is on the ground. 

 It is of a bright, sulphur colour, and of solitary habits. 

 This is the Brimstone, 3 and the caterpillar feeds on 

 the buckthorn. As the food plants are as often to 

 be seen as an undergrowth in woods, in some 

 counties, as in the hedgerows, it would be anticipated 

 also that the mature insect is not uncommon in 

 woods. It is scarcely possible to mistake this insect 

 on the wing, although it is more lively during warm 

 weather ; but generally it has a lazy kind of flight, 

 and juvenile insect-hunters find it sure game. 



White butterflies sometimes all of them are called 

 cabbage butterflies are lovers of gardens, fields, and 



1 Lyecena argiohis. 3 Gonepteryx rhamni. 



2 Chrysophanus phlceas. 



