320 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



miiller and the Cupreae of Haworth are older, and equally suitable, 

 group names. The species of this tribe comprise some of the most 

 brilliant of our Palrearctic species, their bright refulgent copper colour 

 glistening in the sun, sometimes shot with a most delicate violet hue, 

 sparkling gems bathing in the hot sun of our alpine valleys, or walking 

 round and round, working their hindwings like revolving discs, hustling, 

 fighting, drinking nectar from the flowers, the acme of beauty and self- 

 indulgence. The sexual diversity is usually great, and, whilst in some 

 species, e.g., Loweia dorilis, the $ is quite black-brown, and the ? may 

 be copper; in Chrysophdnus hippotho'e the $ is copper tinged with purple, 

 and the 2 brown-black often with scarcely any copper in it. Some of 

 the species are coppery in both sexes, marked with transverse series 

 of square black spots ; others have fine delicate tails (reminding one 

 of the hairstreaks) ; and, whilst the undersides of some are scarcely 

 separable in their markings from those of the Polyommatids, in others, 

 there are fewer markings than in the hairstreaks. Scudder says : 

 "This group contains the stoutest of the Lycaeninae, and is far 

 less numerous in species than the tribes already mentioned. Their 

 heavy markings and the lustrous reddish or fulvous tint of their upper 

 surface, which has won for them the popular name of ' coppers,' 

 distinguish them at a glance from other groups. Their hindwings 

 rarely bear the thread-like tails peculiar to many of the Lycaeninae, 

 although, in some exotic genera, the anal angle is sometimes considerably 

 produced. The disposition of the markings of the undersurface closely 

 resembles that in the Lycaenidi, to which they are much more nearly 

 allied than to the Theclidi. Many of the species frequent moist, boggy 

 places, while others rejoice in the full blaze of the sun in arid pastures or 

 by the roadside. Their flight is quick, usually short, abrupt, and rather 

 infrequent ; they seldom wander far; like some of their allies they are 

 often very pugnacious, darting from their resting-places at any passing 

 object." 



The Chrysophanid egg is very characteristic, and its peculiarities 

 are well exhibited in our pi. hi., figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 where are exhibited 

 ova of Rumicia phlaeas (figs. 3 and 4), Heodes virgaureae (tig. 6), and 

 Qhrysophanus hippotho'e var. yordius (fig. 5). The large open cells that 

 form so striking a feature of its sculpture, have no real near approach 

 in the eggs of other Ruralids known to us, e.g., the Thestorids, as 

 exemplified by Thestor balliis (pi. iv., fig. 1), the Callophryids, as 

 exemplified by Callophrys rubi (pi. iv., fig. 2), the Lycrenids, as 

 exemplified by the eggs of Aricia var. artaxerxes, Polyommatus icarus, 

 Agriades bellargus, A. corydon (pi. iv., figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively), 

 etc. The nearest approach to them appears to be shown by the eggs of 

 A. corydon (pi. iv., fig. 6) The eggs are laid singly, but often several 

 on a single plant. 



The Chrysophanid larva is essentially Ruralid in structure, i.e., 

 it is of the typical outline, common to "blues" and "hair- 

 streaks," but is, perhaps, rather less markedly raised dorsally. 

 Chapman considers that the larva of Chrysophanus dispar is the most 

 markedly limaciform of those examined, differing in this respect 

 widely from Rumicia phlaeas and Heodes virgaureae, which are 

 very similar to each other. The marginal flanges are noticeably 

 closely applied to the surface on which the larva crawls. Besides 

 the usual tubercular hairs, minute skin-hairs are very abundant 

 but not visible without a lens ; their trumpet-shaped tops are very 



