THE HOLLY BLUE. 175 



In confinement the caterpillars will eat young leaves of holly 

 and probably of ivy also, but where flower-buds are available 

 they prefer them and ignore the tender leaves. 



The Rev. Gilbert Raynor, on May 18, 1901, observed a 

 female deposit an egg on an unopened flower-bud of rhododen- 

 dron in his garden ; and he also mentions that he beat a number 

 of the caterpillars of all sizes from holly during the first week 

 of July in the same year. 



Mr. Dennis reported that on October 9, 1902, all stages of 

 the species were to be found at Earl's Colne, Essex. 



Butterflies of the first flight are usually to be seen in April 

 and May, and of the second, which is perhaps only partial and 

 may not be represented at all, in July and August. Specimens 

 have been observed as early as the last week of March, and, 

 as adverted to above, as late as October. For a few years in 

 succession the species may become increasingly numerous, and 

 then suddenly become quite scarce for a year or two. Most 

 probably this is the result of favourable or unfavourable weather 

 conditions. 



The taller hollies, where these grow in gardens, open woody 

 places, on hillsides, or even in hedgerows, are frequented by 

 these butterflies in the spring ; and the ivy-clad walls, etc., are 

 their haunts in the summer. 



The species is widely distributed, and often common, over 

 the whole of the south of England and Wales. North of the 

 Midlands, as well as in Ireland, it is more local, and occurs, I 

 believe, only in the first brood. Possibly in the South of 

 Ireland there may be a second brood. Barrett states that there 

 is no reliable record for Scotland. 



Abroad, its range extends throughout Europe and Northern 

 Asia, except the Polar Regions, to China and Japan. It also 

 occurs in North Africa. 



