CYANIRIS SEMIARGUS. 303 



1908, at Charmes, July 23rd, 1908, Luxeuil-les-Bains (Gibbs); July 

 17th, 1908, at Leuk, July 19th, 1908, at Martigny, July 20th- August 

 2nd, 1908, at Hermance (Eeverdin); July 23rd, 1908, at Miihlau, 

 July 18th, 1908, at Kalbling, August 4th, 1908, at Reichenstein 

 (Kiefer); July 27th-30th, 1908, on the Staefa bog, August 4th, 

 1908, at Spinabad and Glaris, August 8th, 1908, on the Fluela Pass, 

 August 9th-10th, 1908, between Lavin and Guarda, August 13th, 

 1908, on the lower slopes of the Wormser Joch, well above Santa Maria, 

 August 14th, 1908, on the Ofen Pass, above Zernetz (Tutt); August 

 2nd, 1908, at Barcelonnette, August 7th-8th, 1908, at the Lac d' Alios 

 (Rowland-Brown). 



History of Cyaniris semiargus as a British species. — The species 

 is said to have been first noted by Moufet, in 1634, and described 

 (Insectorum sive Minimorum Animalium Theatruni, p. 105, no. 3) by 

 him as— 



Si volantem videris, alas purpurei exoleti coloris in caeruleum vivaceum 

 abeuntes esse dixeris, variis plicis donatas ; intus autem annulis oculeis praeditas, 

 caesias magis videntur atque aeruginosas. Caput ex viridi casruleum splendet ; 

 corpus fuscis albisque institis ornatur, oculi nigerrimi, pupillae albissimae videntur. 



This description is not very conclusive. It was then described by 

 Ray (Historia Insectorum, p. 132, no. 17), in 1710, as follows — 



Papilio minor, alis supinis purpuro-caeruleis, pronis ocellis aliquot pictis. An 

 Diurnarum minimarum tertia Mouffeti, pag. 105 ? Alas supinae ab exortum 

 coerulescunt ; inferius e fusco albicant. Ocelli sex septemve in singulis alis. 

 A. D. Dale capta nobisque ostensa est. 



It was described, in 1795, by Lewin (Papilios of Great Britain, p. 

 80), as— 



Cimon. Tbe dark blue. Tbis is a very rare butterfly with us, and, as may be 

 readily supposed, our knowledge of its natural bistory is very confined. Tbe caterpillar 

 is unknown. The last week in August, 1793,1 took two or three of tbe butterflies, 

 flying in a pasture- field at tbe bottom of a hill near Batb. They were much wasted 

 in colour, and appeared to bave been long on the wing, so that it may be concluded 

 that tbey were first out from tbe chrysalides about the middle of July. The upper- 

 side is represented at fig. 7, tbe underside at fig. 6. 



Haworth, in 1803, describes it (Lep. Brit., p. 48) under the name 

 of " P.P.H. cymon," and then says — 



" Habitat Imago m. Mai. f. ** Julio in cretaceis, rarissima fere omnium nostro- 

 rum cceruleorum ; at nuper capta, et ad me missa, in comitatu Ebor, amicissimo 

 meo P. W. Watson, et etiam in Norfolcia amicissimo meo J. Burrell." 



Samouelle notes the species (The Entom. Useful Compendium, pp. 

 242, 381, 417), in 1819, as— 



Lycaena cymon. Tbe Mazarine Blue. In Britain it is very local, but is 

 found near Sherborne, in Dorset, in great abundance. Occurs in May, in chalky 

 places ; also in July. 



In 1824, the same author repeats (Entom. Companion, pp. 242, 

 381, 417) (almost a reprint of the above work) the same facts, except 

 that he gives "the middle of May" and " end of July," instead of 

 " May " and " July." Stephens, in 1828, gave much fuller informa- 

 tion concerning the species ; he describes (lllus. Haunt., i., p. 86) it 

 under the name acts, and notes it as — 



A scarce or ratber a local species, found in chalky districts in Norfolk, 

 Cambridge, Yorkshire, Dorsetshire, also near Brockenhurst and Amesbury,* Hants, 

 and on Windlesham Heatb, Surrey, towards the end of May and of July. 



* Amesbury is in Wiltshire. ** f = finis. 



