340 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



I have over and over again reared the larva to the hibernating 

 stage, but never get it any further, it is then in fourth instar, and of 

 a size to suggest it is only in second or third. It is, nevertheless, the 

 case, as proved by comparison of these with full-grown larva given me 

 by Mr. Ray ward, that it is already in its last instar, and that its next 

 moult is to pupa. 



The larva is very dark in colour, deep reddish-brown or reddish- 

 black, making it very inconspicuous in the flower-heads of thyme, its 

 general aspect and appearance is otherwise little different from other 

 larvae of "blues" in their early stages (Chapman). 



Foodplants. — Thymus serpyllum, Zeller, etc., etc. Eondou also 

 mentions (Cat. Lep. L J yr., p. 45) Origanum vulgare in May, but gives 

 no details or references to support the statement, and appears to be 

 unaware of the mystery surrounding the larva of this species after 

 hybernation and the controversy so long carried on upon the subject. 

 It is possible that he copied his statement from Bromilow, Soc. Ent., 

 xvi., p. 248, where the larva described probably did not belong to this 

 species. Sand asserts that in Puy de Dome the foodplant is Gentiana 

 cruciata, and Stefanelli gives, with a query, Papilionaceae, on the 

 authority of Quaedvlieg. [The Hon. N. C. Rothschild (Ent. Rec, 

 xxiii., p. 82) remarks that " Mr. Herbert Ashley has pointed out that 

 it is possible that the larvae of L. avion, after the third moult, feed on 

 the nodules which are formed on the roots of furze and other 

 Leguminosae. If this be so, the absence of furze in many localities 

 where this insect occurs would be immaterial, as other leguminous 

 plants grow there." He also suggests the possibility of their burrow- 

 ing into the dehisced seeds of furze or some other leguminous plant,. 

 though hitherto they have not been discovered in such situations. 

 For the possibility of their being carnivorous after hybernation see 

 supra pp. 331-3.— G.W.] 



Puparium. — A pupa-case was discovered by Rayward and Frohawk in 

 Cornwall on July 12th, 1906, just above which the newly emerged 

 imago was drying its wings, and, directly after, an unemerged pupa. 

 Both were near, but below, the surface of the ground, and neither 

 showed any sign of being attached to the earth or to roots by girth or 

 pad of silk, nor was any cocoon discovered. On the other hand, all 

 the pupae found at Bude by Mr. Percy Richards were enclosed in what 

 he describes as an earthern cell, which exactly fitted the pupa (Ent., 

 xli., pp. 183, 228). 



¥\ivm. — The pupa when newly-changed is a very clear, pale, apricot- 

 yellow, which very gradually deepens to a dark amber-colour, except 

 the wings, which remain light ochreous (June 10th, 1906). It bears 

 a general resemblance to the pupa of Plebeius aegon, excepting for its 

 much larger size. -5in. long. The entire surface of the mature pupa is 

 minutely granulated and covered with very fine reticulations of a deep 

 amber colour ; spiracles are prominent and blackish, the surface 

 posteriorly adjoining them is beset with a number of shining raised 

 bead-like processes, some bearing minute amber coloured spines, which 

 have the apical half branched with extremely small bristles. Dorsal 

 view: — Across the middle its greatest diameter is xV n< r ^ ne Dea ^ 1S 

 obtuse, base of wings slightly angular and swollen, wing slightly 

 concaved, abdomen swollen at third and foiuth segments, then 

 attenuating and rounded posteriorly. Lateral view: — It measures- 



