LYCÆNA WEBSIANA.
Plate I.—Figs. 7 and 8.
This is a smaller blue butterfly than that just described, measuring about one inch across the wings. It is peculiar to the Islands, and is known by some lovers of Entomology as the “Peak Blue.” It is not, however, found on the Peak alone, but is netted in barrancos and gardens at a much lower altitude; it frequents the pine forests in large numbers, and has been also found on the south coast of the Island of Teneriffe, at Guimar (see [Appendix B]), so it may be fairly considered to be widely dispersed over the Island. It is undoubtedly found in the greatest numbers in the elevated zone of the pine forests, where, however, owing to the extremely slippery nature of the ground, it is difficult to net. The male is of a beautiful metallic blue colour; the female of a much browner blue. The upperside of the male, and the underside of the female, are shown in the illustrations.
The fore-wings of the underside in both sexes are alike, being of an orange tawny colour, with a white uneven spot on the top margin of each wing, and five or six somewhat indistinct brown spots at the outer edge, interspersed with white.
The hind-wings are of an ashy brown, with a longitudinal, irregular silver white line down each, both wings being minutely dotted with white. Five or six brown spots, dusted with silver, are seen at the margin of the hind-wings. It usually appears in March, though it has been seen at an earlier date. The larva and pupa have not hitherto been found.