THE AZURE BLUE 23 



PLATE XII 

 THE AZURE BLUE (1) 



I do not know why this pretty butterfly is 

 called the "Azure" Blue; for azure is a very 

 bright blue indeed, and yet the insect is not 

 nearly so brilliantly coloured as the Clifton blue. 

 Indeed, it is lilac in colour, rather than blue. 

 But sometimes it is called the " Holly Blue," and 

 that is a very much better name for it; for one 

 often sees it flying along by the side of holly 

 hedges, while the caterpillar feeds upon holly 

 blossoms, as well as upon those of buckthorn 

 and ivy. It is the first of all the "blues" to 

 appear in the spring, and you may sometimes 

 see it even in April. And generally there is 

 another brood towards the end of the summer. 



You can easily tell the female of this butterfly 

 from the male, for her front wings have a broad 

 black border, while that on the wings of her 

 mate is very narrow indeed. The caterpillar is 

 greenish-yellow in colour, with a black head and 

 black legs, and a bright green streak running 

 along the middle of the back. When it has 

 reached its full size it turns into a small 

 yellowish-brown chrysalis. 



