63 



THE AZURE-BLUE BUTTERFLY. 

 Papilio Argiolus. BRITAIN. 



PLATE XIX. 



Gmelin's Linne, i. p. 5. 2350, No. 234 Donovan's Brit. 



Ins. xiv, p. 39, pi. 418 Polyommatus Argiolus, Ste- 

 phens. Rennie's Conspectus, p. 17. 



THE extent of the wings is from an inch and a 

 ixth to an inch and a half, of a deep azure blue ; 

 he superior ones with a broad transverse band of 

 >lack on their outer side, and a margin of black and 

 vhite dots j the lower wings are dotted with black, 

 nd a deep line of black towards their lower ex- 

 remities ; the under side of the wings is light gray. 

 The female has more black at the tip of the wings, 

 vhich are bluish, inclining to purple; the under 

 urface of both male and female is of a very pale 

 blue, dotted with black. This insect is not 

 ncommon, appearing about the middle of the day, 

 in sunny weather, on the skirts of meadows. 



The larva of this butterfly is rarely to be met 

 with ; it feeds on grass, and is hairy ; of a yellow- 

 ish green colour, with a bright green line down the 

 back, and the head and legs are black ; it feeds on 

 buckthorn and holly. 



