PLATE X1. Brown Argus2. Clifton Blue
PLATE X
1. Brown Argus2. Clifton Blue
Although this pretty little butterfly belongs to the family of the “blues,” it has no trace of blue in its colouring at all, but is dark brown above, with a row of orange spots along the margin of both the front and the hind-wings, and either grey or reddish-brown below. It is very common in most places, and more especially on chalky downs, where you may often see it gambolling about in company with two or three “common blues.” And you may also see it flitting about in almost any meadow, just when the hay is ready for cutting. It appears twice in the year, first in May, and then again in August.
In shape, the caterpillar of this butterfly is rather like a fat little slug. It is covered with short white hairs, and is green in colour, with a dark brown stripe along the back, and a narrow pink streak on either side. You may sometimes find it feeding upon the leaves of the hemlock, stork’s-bill, and sun-cistus. And when it has finished growing it turns into a little green chrysalis with a deep pink stripe on each side.
This is one of the loveliest of all our British butterflies, for the upper side of the wings of the male is of the brightest and most vivid blue, like that of the sky on a glorious summer’s day, with a white line running along the front margin, and a black line along the hind one. The female, however, is not nearly so handsome, her wings being smoky brown all over, with only just a few blue scales on the parts nearest to the body. The lower surface of the wings, both in the male and the female, is greyish-brown, with a number of black spots edged with white.
If you want to see this beautiful butterfly, you must hunt for it either in May or in August on the chalky downs in the south of England, and in the Isle of Wight. But it is one of the “local” butterflies, and although you may find it quite commonly in one or two places, you may search for it elsewhere for years, and yet never meet with it at all.
The caterpillar of the Clifton Blue, or “Adonis Blue,” as it is sometimes called, is green, with yellow streaks. It feeds on trefoils and vetches, and other low plants.