THE ARTAXERXES. 115 



August, and is common in very many localities in .the 

 south, being particularly abundant on the downs of the 

 south coast and the Isle of Wight. 



THE AETAXEEXES BUTTEEFLY. 

 (Polyommatus Artaxerxes.) (Plate XIV. fig. 7.) 



Colouring, same as in the last species (Agestis) ; but 

 on the upper surface, the orange border-spots are often 

 hardly perceptible on the front wing, and there is a 

 distinct white spot in the centre of the front wings. 

 The under side also is precisely like that of Agestis, with 

 the black spots removed from the centre of the white 

 rings, which are thus changed into large white spots, as 

 shown in the figure. 



There has been a great deal of discussion among 

 entomologists, as to whether this be a distinct species, 

 or only a variety of Agestis. I believe it to be the 

 latter, but do not attach much importance to the ques- 

 tion ; and as this butterfly is found under the name of 

 Artaxerxes, in almost every cabinet, and is rather a 

 famous little insect, I have thought it best to give it a 

 separate heading under its usual title, and collecting 

 readers may still label it in their cabinet either as 

 above, or as "P. Agestis, var. Artaxerxes," and probably 

 will be equally right either way. 



The popular nature and limited extent of this work 

 will not, however, admit of the subject being entered 

 into scientifically, and I can only here state that I have 

 seen specimens from various parts of the country, that 

 include every intermediate variety between the ordinary 

 Agestis of the south, and the Artaxerxes of Scotland. 

 The Durham Argus, formerly called P. Salmacis, forms 

 one of these gradations. 



Against the idea of Agestis and Artaxerxes being one 

 species, it has been objected, that the former is double, 

 the latter single brooded. What of that ? Plenty of 

 species that are double-brooded in the south of Europe 

 are well known to become single-brooded in a more 

 northern situation. 



