63 
THE AZURE-BLUE BUTTERFLY. 
Papilio Argiolus.—Britain. 
PLATE XIX. 
Gmelin’s Linné, i. p. 5. 2350, No. 234.—Donovan’s Brit. 
Ins. xiv, p. 39, pl. 418,—Polyommatus Argiolus, Ste- 
phens.—Rennie’s Conspectus, p. 17. 
Tue extent of the wings is from an inch and a 
sixth to an inch and a half, of a deep azure blue ; 
the superior ones with a broad transverse band of 
black on their outer side, and a margin of black and 
white dots ; the lower wings are dotted with black, 
and a deep line of black towards their lower ex- 
tremities ; the under side of the wings is light gray. 
The female has more black at the tip of the wings, 
which are bluish, inclining to purple; the under 
surface of both male and female is of a very pale 
sky blue, dotted with black. This insect is not 
uncommon, appearing about the middle of the day, 
in sunny weather, on the skirts of meadows, 
The larva of this butterfly is rarely to be met 
with ; it feeds on grass, and is hairy ; of a yellow- 
ish green colour, with a bright green line down the 
back, and the head and legs are black; it feeds on 
buckthorn and holly. 
