POLYOMMATUS (lYCJ]Na) ARGIOLUS. 99 



from the base over the larva, slanted now a little back- 

 wards over the pupa. 



The pupa is about five-sixteenths of an inch in 

 length, and three- sixteenths in width, of a dumpy figure, 

 thickest at the middle of the abdomen, with the head and 

 thorax rounded, and the latter very slightly keeled ; a 

 depression occurs between the thorax and abdomen, 

 where the cincture passes which holds it secure ; thence 

 the abdomen swells out full and arched towards the 

 bluntly rounded anal end ; the wing-covers are long in 

 proportion, but not at all projecting. 



In colour it is pale brownish-ochreous, with a black- 

 ish-brown thin dorsal line marking the thoracic keel, 

 and on the abdomen a series of rather blotchy arrow- 

 head dorsal dashes, and a subdorsal series of larger 

 dark brown blotches, that nearest the thorax being the 

 more conspicuous from the next segment being without 

 one. The thorax is marked with oblique rows of brown 

 freckles directed from the sides of the head towards 

 the end of the keel at the depression ; the eye-covers 

 are blackish, the wing-covers pale greyish with rays 

 of brown freckles, and outlined with a thin brown 

 edging, their surface smooth, rather more glistening 

 than the other parts, which are thickly studded with 

 fine, short, brownish bristles. 



It may be worth mentioning that during the month 

 of May, 1876, eggs were laid by a female Argiolus, in 

 captivity, on holly and also on young shoots of ivy, and 

 that both Mr. Hellins and I find that the larvae eating 

 ivy are more advanced than those feeding on holly. 

 (W. B., 12, 6, 76 ; E.M.M. XIII, 29.) 



Since the above was written some further variations 

 of the larva may be mentioned ; they occurred amongst 

 a recent brood, reared from eggs, which were brought 

 successfully through to the pupa state, both by Mr. 

 Hellins and myself. 



Several individuals were olive-green, strongly marked 

 with crimson on the dorsal region and along the sides, 

 and deeply suffused with this colour on the thoracic 



