75 



The caterpillar is of a pale green, with a purplish brown dorsal line, and 

 two very pale oblique lateral lines. It is short and thick, arched on the 

 back, covered with fine white nairs, and a black head. It feeds on the leaves 

 of the Sun Cistus (Heliant/iemum vulgare), and the Heron's Bill [Erodium 

 cicutarium.) 



The chrysalis is smooth, rather thick in proportion, of a pale green colour 

 with a deep pink stripe at the sides, enclosing a central white one, and has 

 the head rounded and prominent. 



It is found throughout Europe, North Africa, and Northern and Western 

 Asia to the Himalayas, from May to August, frequenting dry sunny places, 

 especially on chalk or limestone. On the Alps it is found to the tree limit. 

 In the South of England the butterfly appears at the latter end of May, or in 

 June, at the end of which month it may be found in more Northern localities. 

 The caterpillars are to be found in June or July, in the South, and the 

 butterfly is again on the wing in August. The caterpillars of this brood 

 hybernate to reappear in April or May. In Scotland there is but one brood, 

 the caterpillars of which pass the winter quite small, to feed up in the spring. 



The white spotted variety Artaxerxes seems to be entirely confined to 

 Britain, ranging from Richmond (54£" N.L.) to Kincardineshire (57" N.L.), 

 and in Scotland from sea to sea. Throughout all this district it appears 

 only once in the season. The black spotted variety Agestis has a wide Euro- 

 pean range, from Gibraltar in the South (36" N.L.) to Upsala in the North 

 (60" N.L.) ; and from England on the West to the Ural Mountains on the 

 East. In England as far No] th as London and Bristol, it seems to be double 

 brooded; whilst at Liverpool and so Northwards only single, making its 

 appearance simultaneously wi! h the Artaxerxes form. 



The Southern form Agestis vas figured by James Petiver in his " Gazophy- 

 laci Naturae et Artis," published at London, in 1702; and also in his 

 " Papilionum Britannia?/' 171 h It was also figured by Lewin in his " Insects 

 of Great Britain," published ir 1795, as well as the Northern form Artaxerxes, 

 accompanied by the following letterpress — "Brown Blue Idas, Linnseus. 

 This is a common butterfly vith us, and to be taken in almost every dry 

 pasture field, or in the open parts of woods, fl)ing, the first insect in June, 

 when it first makes its appearance. There is also a later brood of this species 

 in August." 



"Brown White Spot, Ar.axerxes. This new species of butterfly was 

 taken in Scotland, and is now in the collection of Mr. William J ones, of 

 Chelsea." 



In his "Lepidoptera Brits mica?," 1803, Haworth records Artaxerxes as 

 being very rare in the fields of Scotland, but not in England, as Christian: 



