BLUES. 135 



many eyes which bestud their under surface, they seem to 

 look out in smiling happiness at the beautiful things around 

 them. These belong to the genus Polyommatus, from Greek 

 words expressive of the many eyes, or eye-like spots which 

 adorn, as just noticed, the reverse side of their blue or brown 

 wings. 



One of the commonest of these lovely little creatures, is 

 the Argus, or Alexis,* with plain cut wings of splendid blue 

 changing to lilac, bordered with black, and fringed with silky 

 white; on this under surface they are grey, with oscillated 

 spots. The female of this species, like those of several others 

 of the same genus, is by no means . so splendidly attired, her 

 more sober pinions being brown, bordered, however, by 

 bluish spots, and ocellated on their reverse. Being one of 

 the double-brooded, there are two seasons, May and August, 

 which in most places afford frequent opportunities 



" O'er the bladed mead to chase 

 This blue-winged butterfly." 



Its caterpillar (which like most of those belonging both to 

 the " Coppers" and the "Blues," is of the onisciform or wood- 

 louse shape), is bright green, with rows of yellow spots, and 

 may be found, in April and July, feeding on various grasses, 

 lucerne, and the wild strawberry. 



There is another larger and beautiful species of blue butter- 

 fly, ( with black bordered wings of silvery azure, and the usual 



* Pdyommatus Alexis. t 



