122 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



of its having been taken a long time ago in Ashdown 

 Forest, Sussex ; and since then, by a dealer, in Epping 

 Forest. It is a beautiful insect, coppery red, bordered 

 with changeable purple, and I should be glad to see it 

 fairly established in our lists. 



POLYOMMATUS B^Ticus. The LONG-TAILED 

 BLUE. This Butterfly has been long known, as a 

 southern insect, with a very wide range of distribution, 

 abounding in the south of Europe and thence extending 

 into India, Java, &c. Then last year it was seen in 

 Guernsey, and in August of the same year an indivi- 

 dual was actually captured in this country, the scene of 

 the event being somewhere on the chalk downs in the 

 neighbourhood of Brighton, and the fortunate captor 

 being Mr. McArthur, of that town. My friend and 

 neighbour, Dr. Allchin, of Bayswater, was on the spot 

 at the time, and saw the insect shortly after its capture. 



The 'butterfly, which on the upper side has some- 

 what of the aspect of a female " Common Blue/' will 

 be at once recognised by its long tail-like appendages to 

 the hind wings. Beneath, its plan of colouring is totally 

 distinct from that of any of our native " Blues " (Poly- 

 ommati), being destitute of the numerous little eye-like 

 spots, which are replaced by bands of fawn colour and 

 white ; but at the lower angle of the hind wings are two 

 spots of glittering metallic green, reminding one, on a 

 small scale, of the " eye " of a peacock's feather. 



The habits of the insect are those of our Common 

 Blues skipping about over grassy places, and for a 

 Common Blue it would on the wing be readily mistaken. 



Collectors will in the coming season doubtless search 

 the south coast district thoroughly, and many a Common 

 Blue will be apprehended on suspicion. 



Should our little friend Bceticus continue his north- 

 ward progress (as we have some reason to hope he may), 

 we may find him regularly enrolled on the native lists, 

 and gracing the ranks of that select little company 

 entitled " Our British Butterflies." 



