S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

AZURE BLUE.
PLATE LVIII.
136
HOLLY BLUE.
Polyommatus argiolus, LATEEILLE. STEPHENS. CURTTS.
" " WOOD. DUNCAN. WESTWOOD.
Papilio argiolus, LINNJEUS. HAWOETH. DONOVAN.
LEWIN.
" acis, HUBNER.
" cleobis, ESPER.
" argus marginatus, DE GEEE.
Agriades argiolus, HUBNEE.
Lycana argiolus, OCHSENHEIMEB. LEACH.
" " SAMOUELLE.
THIS plain but neat species is to be found, as its name
imports, in places where the holly abounds. Unlike the other
Blues, it flies near the tops of these trees, hovering about them
and settling on them very much after the manner of the
Hairstreaks.
In Yorkshire, it is not uncommon. I have known it in
former years in very considerable plenty at Fairfield, near
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire; other localities for it are Castle
Eden Dene, Durham; Dartford, Kent; Ripley, Surrey; Epping
Forest, Essex; Newcastle, Northumberland; Hammersmith, near
London; Allesley, in Wanvickshire; the Isle of Wight, and
in Hampshire; and also in various places in Norfolk, Suffolk,
and Devonshire.
It appears to be double-brooded, being taken so early as the
middle of April, as also in May, June, July, and the end
of August—the charming summertide, when you cannot but,
with the butterflies you seek, "love the merry merry sunshine,"
and Avish that it were ahvays summer.