Genus COENONYMPHA, Hiibtier , 1823 
THE LARGE HEATH 
Coenonympha tullia (Muller, 1764 =tiphon). 
(Plate VII, facing page 80) 
In the British Islands there are three distinct local or 
geographical races of this butterfly — all three to some extent 
intergrade—the typical form of each race is so well defined 
that the older entomologists looked upon them as distinct 
species, and they were described by Haworth under the 
names of davus , typhon, and polydama. Each of these three 
forms of the Large Heath has a wide distribution in 
Britain. 
Distribution. The English and Welsh localities are North¬ 
umberland, Cumberland, Durham, Westmorland, Lancashire, 
Yorkshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and 
Merioneth. Both in Scotland and Ireland it is widely dis¬ 
tributed. Abroad it occurs in central and northern Europe 
and in northern Asia. 
The true Large Heath, C. tullia , occurs in the north of 
England, in north Westmorland, Northumberland and Cum¬ 
berland. Also near Bala in Wales and generally throughout 
Ireland. 
The southern form, C. tullia ab. philoxenus , ranges from 
Westmorland to the north of Shropshire, which is the southern 
limit of this species. 
The northern form, C. tullia ab. laidion , is found ranging 
from the Orkneys to the south of Scotland, also it is common 
in the Isle of Lewis and in some of the Western Isles. This 
form is also known as ab. scolica. 
In 1795 this butterfly was first recorded as British, when 
it was described by Lewin under the name of the Manchester 
Argus, being first discovered on the mosses near Manchester. 
Haunts. The Large Heath frequents swampy moorlands, 
bogs and mosses, and occurs at various elevations in Scotland 
up to 2,000 feet. 
Time of Appearance. This butterfly is single-brooded and 
appears on the wing from the end of June until about the 
third week of July. The normal time of appearance is the 
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