61 



LYC^ENA PHLiEAS. THE [SMALL] COPPER BUTTERFLY. 



Plate XXXIV. fig._p. 



Synonyms. Papilio (Pleb. Rur.) Phlseas, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. 793. Lewin's Pap. pi. 41. Donov. 

 Brit. Ins. vol. xiii. pi. 466. 

 Lycsena Phlseas, Fabricius, Leach, Stephens, Curtis. Duncan Brit. Butt. pi. 30. fig. 3. 

 Papilio Virgaurese, Harris' Aurel. 1st. edit. note. 



Upper Side. The head and body are of a very dark brown. The superior wings are of a 

 shining red, like burnished copper, having eight round spots of black dispersed over each, and a 

 broad dark border along the fan edge. The inferior wings are dark brown ; the fan edge havino- 

 a red border, in which are four spots of black in each wing. The abdominal corners are angu- 

 lated. See the fig. at (p). There are two broods a year ; the first in June, the other in August. 

 They are during the winter in the fly state. 



Expansion of the wings 1 — 1^ inches. 



This pretty little butterfly is one of our commonest and best known insects, 

 the brilliant copper colour of its wings, rendering it every where conspicuous. It 

 especially prefers dry localities, such as road sides, commons, pastures, and heaths. 

 The caterpillar is green, with a yellow stripe down the back, and feeds on the 

 sorrel. This is a pugnacious little creature, keeping up a continual warfare with 

 the little blue butterflies which frequent the same situations and flowers. No sooner 

 do these two enemies come near together than a battle ensues, and they continue 

 buffeting each other about till one is driven from the contest, when the victor returns 

 in triumph to the station he had left. Should the enemy again advance the combat 

 is renewed, but should a cloud obscure the sun, or a breeze chill the air, their 

 ardour becomes abated, and contention ceases. Its own kindred are also equally 

 the objects of its attack, and seldom are two disturbed on a knot of asters in Sep- 

 tember, without mutual strife ensuing, and being much less affected by cold and 

 moisture than the blues, they remain with us much longer, and these contentions are 

 protracted till late in the autumn. (Journal of a Naturalist, p. 277.) 



; 



THYMELE TAGES. THE DINGY SKIPPER BUTTERFLY. 



Plate XXXIV. fig. o. 



Synonyms. Papilio (Plub. Urb.) Tages, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. 795. Leivin's Papil. pi. 45. fig. 3. 4. 

 Hesperia Tages, Leach, Samouelle. 

 Thymele Tages, Stephens. Duncan Brit. Moths, pi. 1 . fig. 2 . 



Upper Side. The antennae are crooked at the knobed part. The palpi are large and con- 

 spicuous. The wings are totally of a dark brown, having some small cloud-like spots crossing 

 the superior wings, of a light slate colour. It is shewn in the plate at (o) ; and flies about the 

 beginning of May. 



Expansion of the wings 1 — 1 \ inches. 



The caterpillar of this species is described as bright green, with a brown head 





