S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

CLIFDEN BLUE. 147
specific name, is abundant in some seasons in the vicinity of
Croydon, Surrey, as Mr. C. Miller informs me: it also occurs
in some parts of Suffolk, and other southern counties. It too
frequents the districts of the chalk formation.
The expanse of the wings is from an inch and a quarter to
nearly one and a half. The fore wings are of a splendid
polished azure blue, the fringe white, intersected by the veins,
edged interiorly by an attenuated black line. The hind wings
are of a similar appearance.
Underneath, the fore wings are of a dark ash grey, with
one eyed spot towards the base, then a large dark one near the
centre, then a waved row of six, and then two other faint
rows. The hind wings are powdered with silvery blue at the
base; near the front margin are three eyed spots, and below
these two others; the outer one near the centre with a larger
white circumference, and a comet-like tail pointing downwards.
Between these and the outer margin are two rows of eyed
spots, the inner one irregular, and with a white patch about
its middle, the outer one following the black line which meets
the margin,* and is followed by the white fringe. Between the
two rows are some pale orange marks with white crescents on
their inner edge.
The female has the fore wings of a dark brown colour, the
base sometimes marked with blue. There is a white spot near
the centre towards the front edge, with a black speck on it.
The fringe is pale buff white, chastely striated on the upper
portion with blackish brown, and within it is an obscure row
of dark dots, tipped interiorly with faint dull white. The hind
wings are similarly marked, but there is more blue on their
inner portion, and there is a row within the margin of black
dots, some of them set in orange, and within these a row of
small angular-shaped blue specks.
The caterpillar is described as being green, with rows of
fulvous spots along the back.
This butterfly also varies in the number, size, and situation
of the spots on the under side, and in some specimens those
on the one side do not even correspond with those on the other.