It is found from January to June in most localities on and at a little distance from the coast; gardens and fields seem somewhat favoured, but it is by no means common anywhere. There seem to be several broods between the months mentioned above, but the larva and pupa have not been observed.
COLIAS EDUSA.
Plate I.—Fig. 5 (female).
This specimen is the English Clouded Yellow. The wings measure from two to two and a half inches across, the female being somewhat larger than the male. Both sexes have the same broad black margin on the fore and hind-wings, but the male differs from the female in having no irregular yellow spots marked on these black borders, which are seen in the female. The hind-wings of the female are of a somewhat darker shade of yellow, tinged with green, than those of the male, and both sexes have a bright orange spot about the middle of the wing. Beneath, both sexes are alike, the fore-wings being of a lighter orange with several irregular black spots and a margin of greenish yellow. The hind-wings are of a uniform green colour with a red ringed spot about the centre of each, accompanied by a silver-like dot in the middle. It is found in quantities in most localities, from the coast to the pine forests, from February to November. The caterpillar is green, with a stripe of yellow and white, having several orange dots on it. It is a miscellaneous feeder, preferring, however, leguminous plants.
COLIAS v. HELICE.
Plate I.—Fig. 6.
A pale yellowish-white variety of the former specimen. It is very rare, and is found in May and during the summer months, though very seldom met with in England.[3] It is slightly smaller than the Colias Edusa, and has been found so small as to measure only an inch across the wings. Don Ramon Gomez has one in his collection of this size. The markings vary considerably, and the bright orange spot in the centre of the hind-wing, as seen in the illustration, is replaced occasionally by a pure white one. The male has hitherto not been found.
[3]In the summer of 1892 many were taken.
LYCÆNA BÆTICA.
A commonly found blue butterfly, measuring from one to one and a half inches across the wings. It is rarely met with in England. The insect has a slender tail at the lower angle of each hind-wing, surmounted by two black dots. The margins of both wings have a slight black or dark brown band. The under-sides of both wings are of a grey-brown colour streaked and slightly spotted all over with faint white lines. On the lower angle of each hind-wing the two black spots on the upper side are replaced by two black ones dusted with silver, and surrounded by a bright orange ring which is broader at the top than at the bottom.