110 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Butterfly called Polyommatus alcon by Stephens is con- 

 sidered to be only a variety of N anon, and not the Continental 

 species described below. The specimen, which is stated to have 

 been taken in Buckinghamshire, is said to have been nearly im- 

 maculate above, and to have measured an inch and a half 

 across :he wings. " Beneath brownish-ash, the anterior [wings] 

 with ocellated black dots as in the preceding, and a series 

 towards the hinder-margin, which has not the lunulated spots as 

 in P. arion ; the posterior wings also bear ocelli, as in the last- 

 named insect, and a series behind, but the hinder margin is 

 nearly immaculate. The female is nearly all brown above, 

 with some obsolete dots, but resembles the male beneath." 



THE ALCON BLUE. NOMIADES ALCON. 



(Plate XLVIL Figs. 3, 4.) 

 Fapilio alcon, Denis & Schiffermiiller, Syst. Verz. Schmett. 



Wien, p. 182, no. 4 (1776); Fabr. Mant. Ins. ii. p. 72, 



no. 683 (1787); Hiibner, Europ. Schmett. i. figs. 263- 



265 (1803 ?). 

 Papilio areas, Esper (nee. Von Rottemburg), Schmett. i. (i) 



p. 338, pl- 34, %s. 4, 5 (1778?). 

 Polyommatus alcon, Godart, Enc. Meth. ix. p. 699, no. 236 



(1823); Duncan, Brit. Butterflies, p. 234, pi. 32, fig. 2 



(1835); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 45 (1879). 

 Lyc&na alcon, Lang, Eur. Butterflies, p. 132, pi. 32, fig. 3 



(1882). 



As we have mentioned above, the present species was in- 

 cluded in the British lists on the strength of a specimen which 

 was suspected, even at the time it was described as N. alcon, to 

 be only a variety of N. arion. It is a rather scarce and local 

 species on the Continent, and I have occasionally taken it on 

 heaths in Northern Germany, where no other species of the 

 group of N. arion were to be met with. 



