POLYOMMATUS. IOI 



north of England, where it was first met with at Castle Eden 

 Dene, and subsequently in considerable numbers, on the mag- 

 nesian limestone district near Newcastle, in July ; it has also 

 been found in Yorkshire and Cumberland. 



This insect differs from the typical P. alexis in the orange 

 spots of the upper side being more or less obsolete, especially 

 in the male, and in the black discoidal spot being edged with 

 white. The black spots on the under side are smaller than in 

 P. alexis. Stephens' original description is as follows : 



" Alis fusco-nigris,subtus fuscescentibus maculis subocellatis, 

 anticis supra in masculis puncto discoidali atro, in fceminis 

 albo, posticis utrinque fascia submarginali rubra. (Exp. alar. 

 $ i unc. i lin. ; ? i unc. 2 lin.) " 



Duncan's more detailed description may also be quoted : 



"Silky brown above, with a macular posterior band of 

 orange-red on all the wings, somewhat obsolete in the male, 

 and a white spot on the disk of the primary wings, which, how- 

 ever, is occasionally wanting in both sexes, but especially in 

 the female. The fringe is white, slightly variegated with brown 

 at the base. The colour of the under side is greyish-brown, 

 the anterior wings with a discoidal white spot; beyond this is a 

 curved band of similar spots, with a minute dusky pupil, suc- 

 ceeded by a band of orange spots, bounded on both sides by 

 a dusky crescent, surmounted with white, the outer margin 

 denned by a dusky line; the hinder wings have a similar mar- 

 ginal band, several scattered white spots towards the base, a 

 larger one near the centre, and a very irregular row behind the 

 middle, with a broad white central patch connecting it with 

 the yellow band. Most of these spots have a minute dusky 

 pupil in the male, but greatly more conspicuous in the 

 female." 



This and the following form appear to be only single- 

 brooded. A complete series of transitions has now been 



