B* 



POLYOMMATUS ARGIADES. 

 Bloxworth Blue. 



ARGIADES, Pall. Argia'des, perhaps from Argia, wife of Polynices, 

 daughter of Adrastus, King of Argos. 



The wings of this the most recent addition to our by no means large list 

 of British Butterflies, expand a little over an inch. It somewhat resembles 

 jEgon, but may be recognized by the little tail-like appendages to the hind- 

 wings. On the upperside, the male is of a lilac blue, with narrow brown 

 borders to all the wings. The female is brown, and has two orange spots at 

 the anal angle of the hind-wings. The underside is of a whitish grey, with 

 a few black spots and two orange spots at the anal angle of the hind- 

 wings. 



The caterpiUar is of a pale green, with a dark line along the back, and 

 brown and white spots. It feeds on Lotus corniculatus, and various species 

 of Trifolium, hybernating small and feeding up in the spring. 



The discovery of a new butterfly in Britain is an event of considerable 

 interest. Mr. Stainton in 1857, considered that new species of British 

 butterflies were more likely to occur in the genus Erebia, than in any other. 

 Events have proved him wrong. As far as we know at the present time, 

 only five specimens of Argiades have been taken in England ; two by the 

 Rev. 0. P. Cambridge, or rather by his sons. These were taken on Blox- 

 worth Heath, near Wareham, in Dorsetshire, on the 19th and 20th of August, 

 1885. A specimen was also taken near Bournemouth, the same month by 

 Mr. Philip Tudor. Two others have been detected by the Kev. J. S. St. John, 

 of Whatley Rectory, Frome, Somersetshire. These, it appears, were taken 

 eleven years ago, 1874, close by a small quarry not two miles from the 

 Rectory. As it has a co-extensive range with Adonis and Cory don on the 

 Continent, it is probable that it occupies other exceedingly small holdings 

 in our South- Western counties, than those to which reference has been 

 made. 



Abroad it appears to be, generally speaking, a common species, frequenting 

 open flowery places in woods, and mountain meadows in May, and again in 

 August. The spring brood, Polysperchon, in much smaller than the summer, 

 and there is a variety, Corelas, which has no orange spots. 



It is found throughout Central and Southern Europe, except Spain, North- 

 Western Asia, the South of Siberia, and Amurland. 



