LYCAENA AKION. 327 



Buckler notes that, on June 16th, 1869, eggs were laid by a con- 

 fined 2 , all on the calyces between the heads of flowers of Thymus 

 serpyllum, but not one on either stalk, stem or leaf. 



In the early morning of July 28th, 1857, in the Glogau Stadforst, 

 Zeller observed the 2 arion, as they flew slowly, occasionally sit down 

 on the stems of Thymus serpyllum, and after sipping from a few flowers, 

 bend their abdomina between the flower-stalks, on which they deposited 

 a pale green egg, sometimes not without some apparent pains; a score 

 or so of twigs were gathered, each with a single egg. In the afternoon 

 they were noticed proceeding in the same manner, but the sunshine 

 was then too hot in the open, and the oviposition was only performed 

 under the shade of the trees. 



Prideaux says that a 2 taken in cop. 11 a.m., June 22nd, 1896, 

 laid ova freely on thyme next day, between the bracts and calyx, 

 which hatched on the 30th. 



When the $ is egg-laying, she travels in a business-like manner 

 from plant to plant, hardly ever rising more than a foot or two above 

 the ground, and settling every few yards till she finds a sprig of thyme 

 to her taste ; then the wings are closed over the back, the insect turns 

 round and round, and finally bends her body and deposits an egg 

 between the leaflets near the end of the sprig, and is off in search of 

 another likely plant. While this process is going on the collector can 

 come within a few feet without disturbing her, can gather the chosen 

 sprig as she leaves it, and follow the same insect from plant to plant 

 (Marshall). 



The eggs are generally laid singly on the largest heads of flowers, 

 and those which are most pubescent seem to be preferred ; sometimes, 

 however, two eggs were found in a head, and in one case no fewer 

 than six (Merrin) ; they were very slightly attached to the hairs of 

 the calyx of a flower of thyme (Newman). 



When the $ is egg-laying (usually in the hot sun) she flies from 

 clump to clump of thyme, and usually as they rest on the flowers the 

 more ragged-winged examples are somewhat conspicuous ; she rests on 

 a spray of thyme, lays a single little white egg near the base of one of 

 the blossoms (often on faded flowers), moving on continuously from 

 one clump to another (Merrin). 



The egg is laid on the calyx of one of the florets of a blossom-head 

 of thyme, and in this position is not readily seen, as usually its shallow 

 side or periphery only is in sight when viewed from above. Two or 

 three eggs on one flower-head are of quite common occurrence, and I 

 have more than once found blossoms of thyme bearing as many as six 

 eggs, although, as the larva — in confinement at least — is of cannibal- 

 istic tendencies, it is improbable that the whole of the larva? emerging 

 from eggs laid so closely together would arrive at maturity (Bayward). 



The eggs are laid singly in the flower-heads of thyme, and whilst 

 there are still some flowers to open. The upper part of the head seems 

 to be preferred. The selected site is usually just below the calyx, but 

 on the calyx or even on the teeth of the calyx is not unusual, on the 

 corolla is rare and apparently accidental. The egg is usually so placed 

 as to be well hidden and a head of blossom known to contain an egg' 

 may have to be explored for some time before it is found (Chapman). 



Powell, writing from Entrevaux, July 17th, 1906, says : — 

 " Yesterday up on Mont Gourdan I saw a $ Lycaena arion egglaying, 



