BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 109* 



THE AZUEE BLUE BUTTEEFLY 



(Polyommatus Argiolus.) 

 (Plate XIII. fig. 3, Male ; 3 a, Female.; 



Colouring: Upper side, beautiful lilac blue the 

 male with a narrow black border (fig. 3), the female with 

 a broad one, sometimes extending over the outer half of 

 the wing (fig. 3 a). Under side, very delicate silvery 

 blue, almost white, with numerous small black spots. 

 No red spots. 



Caterpillar, green, with darker line on back. Feeds 

 on the flowers of holly, ivy, and buckthorn. 



The butterfly appears in May, or sometimes in April, 

 and again in August, frequenting woods and hedges, 

 especially where holly and ivy abound. I noticed im- 

 mense numbers about the ivied walls of Chepstow 

 Castle. 



As the name " Azure Blue " is in general use, I have 

 retained it above, but that of " Holly Blue," sometimes 

 applied to it, is preferable, as its colour is much less an 

 azure blue than that of Adonis. 



Localities : Common in the south, and found as far 

 north as Durham and the Lake District. Not known 

 in Scotland. 



THE BEDFOED BLUE, OE LITTLE BLUE. 

 (Polyommatus Alsus.) 



(Plate XIII. fig. 4, Male ; 4 a, Female.) 



THIS is the smallest of British butterflies, specimens 

 being sometimes seen even smaller than those figured. 



Colouring : Upper side, dark brown, distinctly 

 powdered with blue near the root of the wing in the 

 male, without blue in the female. Under side, pale grey- 

 drab, bluish near the base, marked with rows of black 

 spots in pale rings. No red spots. 



Caterpillar, green, orange stripe down back, and 

 streaks of same colour on each side. 



The butterfly is out in May and June, and is some- 



