CAtALOerE OF BUTTERFLIES. ll 



ther north, but see no reason why it should not occur on all the 

 coast banks where Helianthe7num abounds. I have also found 

 it very sparingly in Hesleden Dene, and more abundantly in 

 several places in Castle Eden Dene, particularly at the Shotton 

 end of Gunners' Pool. Mr. Wailes speaks of it as occurring 

 along the coast from Whitburn to Marsden, but regrets that 

 from ''close feeding of the rocky places where the food plant 

 grows" it is nearly extinct at Marsden. This was written in 

 1857 or 1858, and I also regret that it appears now to be quite 

 extinct in both places, no collector recording it in recent lists. 

 Mr. Wailes, referring to its close connection with Helianthemum, 

 adds, "Mr. Selby finds the same thing occur at Bamborough," 

 so that the Butterfly evidently occurred then at that part of the 

 Northumberland Coast, but it is not in the Twizell list, nor 

 were any specimens in that collection when it was examined for 

 me. The only record I have of its occurrence elsewhere in our 

 counties, is that Dr. F. A. Lees informed me he took it in Upper 

 Teesdale. I have not met with it there, nor has Mr. Gardner, 

 who has collected much in that district. 



10. P. Alexis (Hub.). Common Blue. 



Polyommatus Alexis. Staint. Man., vol. 1, p. 60. 



,, ,, Barrett's Lep. Brit. Is., vol. l,p, 77. 



Lycana Icarus. Newm. Brit. Butt., p. 128. 



Laeva. Buck., vol. 1, pi. XV., fig. 2 ; Wils., pi. iv., fig. 11. 



This is the commonest and most generally distributed of all 

 the British Blues. The larva feeds on Lotus corniculatus (Birds- 

 fool trefoil), and kindred plants, and wherever these, are found 

 the butterfly occurs. It is recorded in every list in my 

 possession, and appears to be found everywhere throughout the 

 district, except on the higher moorlands. It is not necessary 

 therefore to give localities. 



A variety called Icarinus, which is without the spots on the 

 underside, between the base and central spot, is not uncommon 

 at Black Hall Rocks, where I have also taken specimens with 



