The caterpillar feeds on lupine and allied plants. The in- 

 sect is very common in the basin of the St. Lawrence River 

 and the Great Lakes. It abounds in central New York. 



(5) Lycoena pseudargiolus (Boisduval & Leconte), Plate XCI, 

 Fig. 2, rf ; Fig. 3, 9 . Form negle'cta Edwards, Plate XCI, Fig. 

 4, rT ; Fig. 5, 9 . Form lucia Kirby, Plate XCII, Fig. 1, rf 1 , 

 under side. Form marginata Edwards, Plate XCII, Fig. 2, <~? , 

 under side; Fig. 3, nf upper side. Form nigra Edwards, Plate 

 XCII, Fig. 4, ^ (The Common Blue). 



This insect which is very common and may be found upon 

 the wing from early spring until late in the autumn illustrates 

 in a remarkable manner the phenomenon of polymorphism; 

 that is to say, it has a number of forms, some of which are sea- 

 sonal, some of which are sexual, some of which are climatic. 

 It is in fact only through the labors of the late William Henry 

 Edwards that some of the mysteries were cleared up, he having 

 by breeding established the fact that some of the so-called 

 species could be raised from eggs derived from one common 

 stock. The great series of specimens upon which his conclu- 

 sions were founded are in the possession of the writer, and have 

 from time to time been supplemented by a vast amount of 

 other material all of which confirms his teachings. 



165 



PL. XCII 



