LAMPIDES BOETICUS. 339 



laying eggs. On one or two occasions the eggs were deposited on Adeno- 

 carpus intermedins, but this " broom " was almost entirely monopolised 

 by Langia telicanus, whilst Lampides boeticus adhered very much to 

 Ulex nanus. So far as I saw, a plant with no trace of blossoms was 

 never selected, nor were branches with plenty of open flowers 

 apparently pleasing. The chosen branch or plant was generally one 

 with plenty of well-advanced flower-buds, with very few, if any, quite 

 open. The end of a branch was obviously preferred, i.e., within an 

 inch or two of the terminal thorn, but well down the branch a well- 

 developed lateral thorn was nearly as often chosen. The actual spot 

 where the eg<* was placed was very generally on the stem of a lateral 

 thorn, close above wiiere a minor thorn (leaf ?) arose, so that the latter, 

 though not quite touching the egg, was so close to it as almost to do 

 so, and nearly hide it, and afford it protection from any violence such 

 as that caused by a passing animal, or neighbouring plants waving 

 in the wind, etc. The base of the egg was thus generally directed 

 towards the main stem of the branch. It was rare for an egg to 

 be placed on an actual flow T er-bud. [On the Adenocarpus, Lanijia 

 telicanus very nearly invariably chose such a situation.] In laying 

 her -eggs, the female behaved much as many other butterflies do 

 when so engaged, i.e., instead of rushing about wildly, as Lampides 

 boeticus seems usually to do, being a strong flyer, and apparently anxious 

 to cover much ground, but not in the straightforward business-like 

 way of, say, Colias edusa, she made short journeys of a few yards, some- 

 times laying several eggs on the same plant before leaving, but usually 

 going to one near and returning. When only one desirable plant was 

 available, the female usually went off to look for another, but returned, 

 not apparently by memory but, by renewed attraction. The egglaying 

 was quickly done, when a spot was selected ; the female settled on the 

 twig, looked round and retreated backwards, till the ovipositor discovered 

 the desired spot, which was generally satisfactorily attained at the first 

 trial, and the egg w T as at once laid. On such a plant as Ulex nanus, 

 where each little twig is a complete chevaux de friseoi thorns, a suitable 

 spot was of course found easily on first trial, and the butterfly never, 

 that I saw, as I have observed with one or two other Lycasnids, left the 

 spot dissatisfied. This position for the egg, on one surface and closely 

 protected by another, is very common in Lycaanids. Callophrys rubi 

 must have the egg touch, and usually adhere to, both surfaces. Cyaniris 

 semiarijus and Cupido minima place the egg on one calyx with 

 another close opposite it, sometimes touching the egg when laid. It 

 must be necessary to these butterflies to feel the opposing and protect- 

 ing surface with the dorsum of the ovipositor or abdomen, before they 

 yield to the craving to deposit the egg. On June 27th, at a place 

 near Vigo, where Lampides boeticus was very common, two females 

 were specially observed laying on a species of Ulex, near nanus, but 

 with longer and more slender, and with closer, finer prickles (still 

 it might be the same). The butterfly was somewhat particular as to 

 where she should lay them, but still the position chosen varied a good deal. 

 She seemed most pleased with the end of a shoot, which terminated 

 in a spine, and had very young flower-buds below, the eggs being- 

 laid, on the base of the spine and protected by a young bud or 

 leaflet ? (spinelet ?). She would also try, however, as much as five or six 

 inches from the end of the shoot, and where no lower buds were visible, 



