BLUE BUTTERFLIES. 199 



ing to this family, but our space will not permit of de- 

 scription. Such, for example, are the SPECKLED 

 WOOD BUTTERFLY (Satyrus Egeria], the WALL 

 BUTTERFLY (Satyrns Megczra], the GRAYLING 

 (Satyrus Semele\ the MEADOW-BROWN (Satyrus 

 Janira], and the RINGLET (Satyrus Hyperanthus), the 

 last-mentioned insect being remarkable for the fact 

 that the upper surface of the wings is perfectly plain 

 brown, while the under surface is warm brown 

 adorned with sixteen spots, each spot having a white 

 centre, then a broad black circle, and then an 

 outer circle of white. It is an extremely variable 

 Butterfly, both in the size and number of the spots ; 

 but ninety-nine specimens out of a hundred have 

 the sixteen spots, three on each of the upper wings 

 and five on each of the lower wings, the latter being 

 arranged in two groups consisting of three and two 

 spots. All these Butterflies are plentiful, and can 

 be caught without difficulty in lanes or fields, their 

 flight being sluggish, and never rising much above the 

 ground. 



WE now pass to the family of the Lycaenidae, in 

 which are included those small, but very lovely 

 Butterflies which are known by the popular name of 

 Blues and Coppers, in allusion to the prevalent tints 

 of their wings. The latter insects are seldom seen 

 except by those who go to look for them, but the 

 former are prevalent everywhere, fluttering low over 

 wide downs, settling on wild flowers, or aiding in 

 adorning our gardens with their beautifully variegated 

 wines. 



