228 
LYCAENIDAE 
L. coridon is an active butterfly, possessing a powerful and 
rather rapid flight. Like the other Blues, it rests during dull 
weather, and at night, on the stems and flower-heads of grasses 
and other plants. In the evening it takes up its position for 
the night. Frequently several settle on the same grass stem, 
or flower-head, and sit closely packed, head downwards until 
the hour of darkness sets in, when they reverse their positions 
and sit head upwards until the morning sun arouses them to 
take flight. This species has a habit of congregating in 
abundance in rough grassy bottoms between hills in certain 
localities where they abound. 
Haunts and Distribution. The chief haunts of this butterfly 
are rough uncultivated chalk hillsides, and downs, also disused 
limestone quarries, but only where the Horse-shoe Vetch 
(Hipfiocrepis cotnosa) is abundant, as this is the natural food 
plant of the larvae. L. coridon is usually very plentiful in 
suitable places, and often extremely abundant in certain 
localities. It occurs in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cam¬ 
bridgeshire, Cumberland, Dorsetshire, Gloucestershire, Hert¬ 
fordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, 
Rutlandshire, Somersetshire, Surrey, Sussex, Westmorland and 
V iltshire. It has also occurred, but very locally, in Cornwall, 
Essex, Glamorgan, Hampshire, and in one locality in Norfolk. 
In Scotland and Ireland it appears to be unknown. Abroad it 
is widely dist ibuted over Central and Southern Europe. 
Time of Appearance. L. coridon is essentially single- 
brooded. The normal time for its appearance is from the 
middle of July until the end of August By the first week of 
August it is generally fully out and in fine condition, but freshly- 
emerged specimens may be taken during the middle and third 
weeks of the month ; and in late seasons, it is on the wing 
during the first half of September. 
Hibernation. Hibernation is passed in the egg stage, which 
lasts between seven and eight months. 
Egg and Egg Laying. Previous to 1900, the egg of this 
common butterfly was unknown ; therefore, in that year, on 
August 13th, in hopes of finding the egg of this species, I 
purposely went to a chalk down in Surrey to watch females 
depositing. Arriving there between 2 and3p.m.,Ihadnot long 
to wait, as I found several females in the act of laying their 
