POLYOMMATUS. 99 



IV. THE BROWN ARGUS. POLYOMMATUS ALEXIS. 

 (Plate XL VIII. Figs. I, 2.) 



Fapilio alexis, Scopoli, Ent. Cam. p. 179 (1763); v n Rot - 



temburg, Nalurforscher, vi. p. 22, no. 9 (1776). 

 Papilio medon, Hufnagel, Berl. Mag. ii. p. 78, no. 41 (1786); 



Von Rottemburg, /. c. no. 10 (1776); Espcr, Sclimett. i. 



(1) P- 330, pl- 3 2 , fi S- T (i779); i- (2) p. 29, pi. 55, 



fig. 7 (1780). 



Lyccena medon, Newman, Brit. Butterflies, p. 121 (1881). 

 fapitto agesliS) Denis & Schiffermiiller, Syst. Verz. Schmett. 



Wien, p. 184, no. 13 (1776) ; Hiibaer, Eur. Schmett. i. figs. 



303-306(1803?). 

 Polyommatus agestis, Godart, Enc. Meth. ix. p. 689, no. 



220 (1823) ; Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. i. p. 94 



(1827); Barrett, Lepid. Brit. Isl. i. p. 73, pl. 10, figs. 3, 



3<z, b (1892); Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Lepid. i. p. 116, pi 



1 6, fig. i (1886). 

 Papilio astrarche, Bergstrasser, Nomenclator, iii. p. 4, pl. 49, 



figs. 7, 8(i779)- 

 Polyommatus astrarche, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 



50, pl. 14, fig. 9 (1879). 

 Lyccena astrarche, Lang, Butterflies Eur. p. 114, pl. 24, fig. 9 



(1882). 

 Var. Lyccena astrarche, v. cestiva, Staud. Cat. Lepid. Eur. 



ed. 2, p. n, no. 1556 (1871). 

 Var. PapiKo OIL-US^ Hiibner, /. c. figs. 988-992 (1841?). 



The Brown Argus is common throughout the greater part of 

 Europe, the Mediterranean Region, and Northern and Western 

 Asia. The largest and brightest-coloured specimens come 

 from the Mediterranean Region, where the two broods pre- 

 sent constant differences in many localities. It is a local 

 insect in the south of England, where it is double-brooded, 



II 2 



