102 JONES ON NOVA SCOTIAN LEPIDOPTERA. 



common in May andJune, and that a second brood appears in July 

 and Aii2:ust. It is one of the small blue butterflies. 



Polyomniatus litcia, (Kirby.) 



This is a rather common species about Halifax, making its ap- 

 pearance about the first or second week in May. It is very similar 

 in size and markings to the previous species, but the dark border on 

 the fore wings of the female oi pseudargioliis is not so wide. 



Polyommatus A.niertcana^ (D'Urban.) 

 Lycoena Arm ericana , ( Harris . ) 



Harris I believe first drew attention to the difference of markino's 



o 



between this and the small copper butterfly of Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa, [Lycoena j^hleas, Fabr.) and raised it to rank as a distinct 

 species. The markings are very dissimilar when carefully viewed, 

 although it would be hard to say that this species had not originated 

 in the foreign form or vice versa. It differs more particularly 

 from the European species in being of less size and having the 

 black spots on the fore wings much larger and well defined. 



Harris (Insects injurious to vegetation, 2nd edit. p. 274) states 

 that the wings of this species are not notched or tailed. In my 

 NovaScotian examples they are clearly so, having an indentation at 

 the extremity of the hind wings, one of the points of which is an 

 immature tail. 



It loves to keep on the sides of roadways, where it alternately 

 rests upon the little flowers and the hot ground, opening and shut- 

 ting its wings as if in full enjoyment of its short life. Should 

 another of its fellows venture to approach too near its favourite 

 haunt, or indeed one of the larger butterflies, it immediately flies at 

 the intruder, and a regular battle ensues in mid-air, our little friend 

 generally coming off* conqueror. It does not appear very early 

 in summer, but may be seen about as late as September on 

 clover and other blossoms of the field. The caterpillar of this 

 species feeds upon the common dock. 



Polyommatiis 'por senna ^ (Scudder.) 

 This species of which I have only seen one specimen is very 



