﻿366 tfHE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



1888 : July 17th— October 18th. 1889 : June 28th — October 

 21st. 1890: July 14th— November 5th. 



Polyommatus phlceas (Chrysophanus phlceas). — Of the three 

 species of this genus allotted to Britain, this is the only one we 

 can practically claim ; for the purple-edged copper (P. chryseis) can 

 only be considered as a visitor, perhaps the only plausible 

 occurrence being that of Ashdown Forest, Sussex ; while yet 

 another, the scarce copper (P. virgaurea), is said to have been 

 taken in the marshes of the Isle of Ely, and in Huntingdonshire. 

 The large copper (P. dispar) used to swarm in the fens of Hunting- 

 donshire and Cambridgeshire ; the metropolis of the insect was 

 apparently the vicinity of Whittlesea Mere ; while a specimen is 

 recorded from Bardolph Fen. Probably this was a border limit 

 for the insect, as it is within a short distance of the higher 

 ground, and possibly the only locality within our county. 

 Bearing this in mind, I always give the water-dock a hawk's-eye 

 view, when happening to meet with it. Although considered 

 specifically distinct from the continental P. hippothoe by the 

 older authors, I suppose now it is only considered to be a variety 

 of that species, and its extinction in Britain favours this latter 

 view, as I do not believe in the so easy extinction of a species, 

 properly so called, and that confined to one spot of one island of 

 a Continent. That it should exceed in size and vary in its mark- 

 ings is not conclusive evidence, seeing that the whole order is so 

 much subject to variation; there always seems to be an ac- 

 commodating process going on in nature, and this fen locality 

 may have especially suited the development of this butterfly, as 

 it does to-day a certain breed of farm stock. Our present little 

 species is a lively insect, flashing about in much the samejfashion 

 as the blues, but is not quite so exploratory perhaps ; the flights 

 seem to be shorter and more rushing, as if to some destined spot. 

 I have noticed that this and the blue often rest on the same 

 flower-head, while this species would drive a larger insect than 

 itself away. I have only once come across the insect in June, 

 skipping about in the midst of a pasture, where sorrel was very 

 plentiful, at just about the same height and manner as related of 

 the small heath. The last batch is more often seen in the ditches, 

 where a greater variety of wild flowers abound. This butterfly 

 was most abundant in 1890, after the fine weather set in, lasting 

 well into September. Unobserved in preliminary stages. 



1888: June 14th. 1889: August 30th— September 11th. 

 1890 : August 23rd— September 23rd. 



Lyccena icarus (Polyommatus alexis). — The only blue yet 

 observed, and it is natural that it should be a species that is not 

 fastidious as regards soil. Notwithstanding the rich tiling of 

 many species, perhaps this catches the observer's eye as well as 

 any. Assuming this is my only blue, it may be seen as far 

 distant as any, the colours blue and green naturally contrasting 



