CYANIRIS SEMIARGUS. 307 



whilst the antennae also wave up and down alternately ; the wings are 

 then usually held erect and nearly together, the forewings generally, at 

 this time, being held well back so as partly to cover the hindwings. 

 When disturbed, it brings its wings down very suddenly, and flies off 

 with considerable speed. It is, like all its congeners, fond of flowers, 

 and, on the hills near Gresy-sur-Aix, haunts the wild lucerne and 

 sainfoin flowers, with Everes argiades, Agriades coridon, etc., and, on 

 one occasion, we saw a $ busy at a flower of wild heartsease in 

 the Dischmathal, whilst at Clelles it appeared to be most attracted by 

 lavender and scabious ; at Preda it was specially attracted to wild 

 clover flowers, the $ s probably for nectar, the 2 s for egglaying, 

 but at Lavin the $ s frequented a labiate flower, that grows com- 

 monly on the slopes just above the village. At Gallipoli it was 

 noted by Mathew as being especially fond of settling on flowers 

 of wild thyme. Lambillion observes that, in Belgium, its flight 

 is low, not very rapid, and it settles frequently on flowers. We 

 observed, in a spot in the Goschenen-Thal, where this species was 

 not uncommon, that, although the dark purple colour of the $ s of 

 this species made them practically unmistakable on the wing ; the 

 black 2 s were easily overlooked among the zigzagging Aricia astrarche, 

 although the flight of the two species is considerably different. Hudd 

 notes (Ent. Mo. Mar/., viii., p. 113) that he considers that the $ some- 

 what resembles the blue form of the £ Polyommatus icarus on the wing, 

 although it is more richly coloured. Mathew considers that it is not 

 such a quick flier as Polyommatus [icarus, with which, near Gallipoli, it 

 was generally in company, and it could always be distinguished from 

 it on the wing by its mode of flight, as well as by its shade of colour. 

 The dark purple of the $ s of this species, makes them rather easy 

 to determine on the wing, but, as the species flies rapidly forward in 

 somewhat extended curves, it is often difficult to follow, whilst its grey 

 underside, brought into alternate view with the purplish upperside 

 when flying, makes it almost impossible to see on a road, and one 

 traces its course much more readily over herbage, than on a stony 

 road, path, or bank. When settled in the sun, it opens its wings, the 

 head usually downwards, and standing so that the sun's rays fall 

 directly on the wings, shifting its position often, but not losing the 

 effect of the sun's rays. At this time it often chooses leaves to rest 

 on, but one $ was observed to be particularly fond of a flower- 

 head of clover, at Preda, on August 19th, 1907. We observed, 

 at Airolo, during the first week of August, 1907, that, in cloudy 

 w T eather, with occasional gleams of sunshine, C. semiargus can 

 be disturbed rather readily, but flies actively in the sun. When at 

 rest in dull weather, it sits with its wings over its back, its antennae 

 projecting in front, and quite motionless ; as soon as the sun 

 commences to shine again it lowers its wings gradually till they are 

 well separated, but not very far, and then waves them gently, lowering 

 them further and further, until at last they lie open fully exposed to 

 the sun, and the insect is ready to fly. The black $ is very sensitive 

 to the sun's rays, and appears to enjoy sitting with its w r ings partly 

 open, so that the sun shines fully and directly on them. Towards the 

 close of the afternoon of August 7th, 1907, at about 5 p.m., a cloudy 

 and sultry spell ended in a threatened storm, and large rain -drops 

 began to fall. At this time a $ C. semiargus got up from a clover- 

 head in a field, and flew slowly some distance before settling again, 



