190 COPPERS. 



wings, of which the hindmost pair are further distinguished by 

 one or two tail-like appendages. The caterpillars of these little 

 butterflies which feed on trees and shrubs never on herbaceous 

 plants might hardly be taken, save by the entomologists, for 

 caterpillars at all, being of an oval depressed shape, resembling 

 very nearly that of wood-lice, and are hence called onisciform. 



In the genus Lyc&na, we have, fresh from the mint of nature, 

 that bright coinage of meadow butterflies, yclept the " Cop- 

 pers." 1 One of these, the most common, also the smallest, is a 

 splendid little flutterer, 2 with the primary wings of red metallic 

 lustre, spotted and bordered with deep black ; the secondary, 

 brown and black, margined by a coppery band encountered 

 not unfrequently, early in the summer, also in August. This 

 is the little Copper Captain, the fiery Mars of his radiant tribe, 

 so renowned for making war upon his own kindred, and even 

 daring to engage with antagonists of twice his bulk, but 

 without his mettle. The caterpillar of this most common 

 of the Coppers is greenish yellow, onisciform, and, like the 

 majority of those belonging to its tribe, it is a feeder upon sorrel 

 and other herbs of the field. 



Contrasted with the Metallic Coppers, and often seen side by 

 side, are the "Aerial Blues." 3 These are the little blue butter- 

 flies, which, loving to disport over the thymy down, the grassy 

 glade, and flowering meadow, do literally " paint them with 

 their own delight." Now, arising in sportive pairs or trios, 

 they enliven the fragrant air. Now, basking on the yellow 

 buttercups, or chalk-sprung flowers of their own colour, they 

 reflect, in the hues of their expanded wings, every tint of the 

 summer sky, from deep, deep blue to lightest azure, or 

 the glowing lilac, which precedes the sun-set red ; while ever 

 and anon, closing their pinions, and opening thereby the 

 many eyes which bestud their under surface, they seem to look 



1 G. Lyccena. * Vignette to Butterflies in General. 3 G. Polyommatus. 



