ZIZERA. 105 



GENUS ZIZERA. 

 Zizera, Moore, Lepid. Ceylon, i. p. 78 (1881). 



This genus includes very small Butterflies, with no sub- 

 marginal markings beneath, and no basal spots on the fore- 

 wings. 



I. THE BEDFORD BLUE. ZIZERA MINIMA. 



(Plate XLIX. Figs. 4, 5.) 



Papilio minima, Fuessly, Verz. Schweitz. Ins. p. 31, no. 599 

 (1775); Esper, Schmett. i. (i) p. 338, pi. 34, fig. 3 

 (1778?). 



Papilio alsus, Denis & Schiff. Syst. Verz. Schmett. Wien, p. 184, 

 no. 9 (1776); Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. i. figs. 278, 279 



(1803?). 



Ciipido ptier, $ Schrank, Fauna Boica, ii. (i) p. 215, no. 1374 



(1801). 

 Polyommatus alsus, Godart, Enc. Meth. ix. p. 704, no. 246 



(1823); Steph. 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. i. p. 86 (1828); 



Barrett, Lepid. of Brit. Isl. i. p. 92, pi. 14, figs, \a-\c 



(1892). 

 Polyommatus mit.tm i, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 46, 



pi. 14, fig. 3 (1879). 



Lyccena alsus, Newm. Brit. Butterflies, p. 134 (1881). 

 Lycana minima, Lang, Butterflies Eur. p. 128 (1882). 



The Bedford Blue is the smallest of our British Blues, ex- 

 panding from two-thirds of an inch to an inch across the 

 wings, which aie brown above, with white fringes, and have a 

 faint bluish tint in the male. On the under surface they are 

 pearly-grey, slightly bluish or greenish at the base, with dis- 

 coidal spots, and a row of black eyes in white rings beyond ; 

 on the hind-wings there are several additional spots towards 

 the base. It is double-brooded, and is met with from May to 

 August. 



