73 



there the red spots were wanting. -Only part of the posterior ocelli were 

 represented by black dots. 



A more extraordinary one still was taken by my father, in Dorsetshire, on 

 August 5th, 1826. The underside of this specimen is of a cream colour, the 

 usual ocelli are absent, but replaced on the fore- wings by two black streaks 

 near the centre, and on the hind-wings by a very few minute black dots; the 

 fulvous band of spots same as in type, but the marginal row of black spots 

 wanting. I have a variety of Corydon almost identical with this, given me 

 by Mr. Ross. 



The egg is circular, and of a greenish-white colour, covered with tiny hairs ; 

 it has a pale line above the projecting sides, and several pale oblique lines on 

 each side, and a small black head ; the segmental divisions and a sunk dorsal 

 line are of a darker green. When young, the colour is grey tinged with 

 purple, and it makes its exit from the egg by eating a large round hole in the 

 centre of the upper surface, leaving the rest of the shell untouched. For 

 some days its only method of feeding is by eating into the substance of a leaf 

 of the Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) , either from the upper or lower 

 side, leaving the opposite skin as a white spot ; afterwards it feeds on the 

 flower as well as on the leaves. The Rest Harrow {Ononis arvensis) and 

 clover are also food-plants. 



The chrysalis is dull green, with brownish markings, short and stout, nearly 

 as round at the anal extremity as at the head. 



The butterfly appear* on the wing in May, and soon becomes very plenti- 

 ful, continuing throughout June in great abundance. The caterpillars from 

 this brood feed up rather quickly, and even by July, the second brood of the 

 butterfly may be taken. Late in the season, September and October, dwarfed 

 specimens are found, which may be a third brood, but this appears to depend 

 very much on circumstances. When the weather is unsuitable, few of the 

 last brood appear, and it is probable that the caterpillars feed up and enter 

 the chrysalis state in the autumn, or hybernate, according to the season ; those 

 which hybernate producing the largest specimens of the butterfly. The most 

 northerly specimens are the largest and brightest, and perhaps the reason may 

 be found in the fact of their remaining the longest in the caterpillar state. 



This is the commonest of all the Blues, abounding in meadows, on heaths 

 and downs, and not at all confined to chalky soils like its congeners, and 

 occurs all over the British Isles, from the Isle of Hoy, the most northerly of 

 the Shetlands, to the Lizard Point in Cornwall. 



It is common all over Europe, Northern and Western Asia, as far as the 

 Himalayas, and North Africa. 



