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Genus IX. CHRYSOPHANUS. 

 Hubner. 



Chryso'phanus, from Chryson — gold, and Phaino — to appear. 



The relationship of this genus to the next is unquestionably very close, 

 but the splendid coppery colour of the upper surface of the wings, the naked 

 eyes, and the very spinose feet, seem to warrant their generic separation. 

 There has been a considerable diversity of opinion as to the employment of 

 the generic names of the two groups. Fabricius included both under the 

 name of Lycmsa. Latreille employed the name Polyommatus for the whole 

 of the species of the family Lyc^enid2e, giving one of the Blues as an example 

 of the genus. Stephens employed the name of Lyclena for the Coppers and 

 of Polyommatus for the Blues. On the other hand, Boisduval employed the 

 name of Polyommatus for the Coppers and that of LYCiENA for the Blues. 

 But Hubner's name Chrysophanus is far more applicable to the present 

 group, being^quite expressive of their splendid appearance. 



The species of this genus are for the most part European ; a few species 

 are, however, scattered over most parts of the world. The species found in 

 Europe are about fifteen in number, only one of which is to be found in the 

 British Isles at the present day. Another formerly inhabited the fens of 

 Huntingdonshire, and three others have been recorded as British, but 

 apparently upon rather doubtful authority. 



CHRYSOPHANUS DISPAR, 

 Large Copper. 



Dispar, Haworth. Dis'par, unlike ; on account of the disparity in appear- 

 ance of the sexes. 



Some years ago, this was the pride of English entomologists, for we were 

 supposed to have a butterfly entirely to ourselves, it being unknown on the 

 Continent, whilst it literally swarmed in some of the fens of Huntingdonshire 

 and Cambridgeshire. 



The two sexes differ very remarkably in the appearance of the upperside. 

 This in the male, is of an effulgent coppery colour, with a narrow black hind 

 margin. Above the centre of each fore-wing, are a larger and smaller black 

 spot. Above the centre of each hind-wing, is a black streak. The female 

 has two larger black spots above the centre of each fore-wing, and a row of 

 seven between the centre and the hind margin, which is broader than that of 

 the male. The hind-wings of the females are much suffused with black scales, 

 and have a band of coppery-red near the margin, extending also more or less 



