58 



It was common at Glanvilles Wootton, in Dorsetshire, in 1808, once re- 

 corded in 1811, once in 1812, common in 1813, 1814, 1815 (one being 

 taken as late as August 1st), and 1816, scarce in 1817 and 1818, common in 

 1819, 1820, and 1821, scarce in 1822 and 1823, common in 1825 twenty 

 specimens being taken by my father on the 13th June, scarce in 182 8, 1830, 

 and 1831, common in 1834 and 1835, one only seen in 1836, a few in 1837, 

 none recorded in 1838, scarce in 1839 and 1840, and in 1841 a pair on the 

 19th June, being the last ever seen in Dorsetshire. Prom J. C. Dale's En- 

 tomological Journal. 



In Cambridgeshire, the last specimen appears to have been taken on 28th 

 July, 1858, and in Gloucestershire, July, 1849. In Glamorganshire, it 

 could be taken in plenty in 1835, 1836, and 1837 ; a few were also taken in 

 that county in 1871, 1874, and 1875, twelve specimens in 1876, and two in 

 1877. At Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, one was taken by Mr. Edwards, flying 

 over thyme, in 1883. This appears to be the last specimen taken in the 

 British Isles. 



POLYOMMATUS ALSUS. 

 Little Blue. 



Alsus, W.Y. Al'sus, a Rutulian shepherd, Yirg. iEneid. xii. 304. 



This was named Minima by Fuessli in 1775, but Fabricius recognizing 

 the absurdity of the name, adopted that of Alsus, given in the Yienna 

 Catalogue, published in 1776. Troc/dlius, not Alsus, is the smallest of the 

 Eureopean butterflies. 



Both sexes are of a dull brown on the upperside, the male with, the female 

 without, a silvery blue tinge. The underside much resembles that of Acts. 



The width across the wings varies from three-quarters of an inch to an inch. 



Yery few varieties are known. I once saw an albino taken at Winchester, 

 and a variety, Lorquinii, which is sky blue on the upperside, is found on the 

 Continent. 



The egg, as might be expected, is very small, round, but more flat than 

 globular, with a central depression on the upper surface; the depression is 

 the only place where the pale green ground colour of the egg can be well seen, 

 because the rest of it is closely covered with a raised white network. It is 

 generally deposited low down on the calyx of the flowers of Anihj/llu vul- 

 neraria ; on the flowers and seeds of which plant the caterpillar feeds. 



The caterpillar is a very tiny little fellow on emerging from the egg, and is 

 of a whitish-green colour with a black head. After a time the colour changes 



