THE SPRING AZURE BUTTERFLY. 287 



the wings, and the creature become dark and 

 shabby. 



This spring, 1827, fostered into active life an 

 insect unknown in our district, or at least unnoticed 

 before by me; a pretty little blue butterfly, for 

 which I know no common appellation, and so have 

 named it the " spring azure," (papilio argiolus). 

 It appeared quite at the end of April, and in some 

 numbers, but was yet a transient visitor with us, 

 as after the first week in May only a lingering spe- 

 cimen or so was visible. Few wild flowers are 

 then in bloom ; but, leaving all herbaceous plants, 

 it frequented chiefly the holly, the laurel, and the 

 black currant, feeding on the honey secreted by 

 the nectaries in their blossoms. If this butterfly 

 be any where common, it may be mistaken by in- 

 different observers for the little blue argus of our 

 pastures ; but it appears some months earlier than 

 that insect is accustomed to do ; does not flit from 

 blossom to blossom, and bask upon the disks of the 

 lowly herbs ; and, though a feebler creature on the 

 wing, takes a much higher range in flight, and 

 sports in altitudes which the argus, with all its 

 animation, is very rarely inclined to attempt. When 

 in captivity, the dark margins of the upper wings, 

 the black specks, not eyes, and the pale blue of the 

 reverse, without any other character, render it per- 

 fectly distinguishable from the papilio argus, cory- 

 don, or any other butterfly found with us. A 



