59 



to a pinkish-brown or a chocolate, and finally to a greenish-yellow, with 

 reddish-brown dorsal and lateral streaks, the skin being covered with short 

 bristles of a darkish brown. When full grown it is about one-third of an 

 inch long, and may be compared to a very tiny tortoise, the head being very 

 small and retractile, and a lateral ridge running all round, and giving the 

 appearance of an upper shell. 



The chrysalis is obese, of a brownish-yellow with three rows of black spots. 

 It does not appear to be suspended by the tail and by a girdle of silk, as is 

 the custom of the family, and when found on a chalky soil, can well be passed 

 over as a stony particle. 



There appears to be two broods of the butterfly in the year, at least in the 

 South of England, one in May and June, and the others in August. Perhaps 

 the second brood does not always appear, as the Rev. J. Hellins writes to the 

 " Entomological Monthly Magazine," Yol. 10. thus, "Egg laid about middle 

 of June; caterpillar hatched within a week, full-fed, and fixed motionless 

 about the end of July, so continuing ten months till the beginning of next 

 June ; the chrysalis state then lasting some ten days or so, and the butterfly, 

 apparently, living but a short time to perpetuate the species. The long con- 

 tinuance in the caterpillar state, after being full-fed, seems very remarkable." 



This little butterfly is generally distributed over Europe except in the 

 extreme North, and occurs also in Siberia and Asia Minor. It is chiefly 

 confined to chalk and limestone districts, and rather local though occurring 

 in almost every county in England, and is common in many places in both 

 Ireland and Scotland, Eorres being its northernmost limit. 



Lewin appears to have been the first to have taken it in England, for in 

 his "Insects of Great Britain," 1795, he writes thus, "This very small 

 butterfly passed unnoticed a number of years. Its flight is quick, and being 

 so very minute, it is lost to the sight in a moment. It is far from uncommon, 

 as I have taken it in various places flying the first week in June. It fre- 

 quents the sides of hedges on a chalky soil. The caterpillar is not likely to 

 be seen, as it must be very small ; and we may safely suppose, that it feeds 

 on grass. The male and female differ only in size." 



Stephens in 1828, records it as "not a very abundant species." 



POLYOMMATUS ABION. 

 Large Blue. 



Aeion, Linn. Ari'on, a Lyric poet of the Island of Lesbos, and a skilful 

 player upon the lute, 



