186 BBITISH BUTTEBFLIES 



The under side (Plate VI, tig. 6) is coloured with a delicate 

 grey ground, adorned with a white streak on each wing, and a 

 coxiple of orange spots near the anal angle of the hind wings. 



This species is very widely dis- 

 trihuted, being common in oak woods 

 : in most parts of England, and also in 

 many parts of Scotland and Ireland, 

 ft files around the branches of the 

 trees, and often disappoints the col- 

 lector by keeping far beyond the reach 

 ^'*'^^ of his net. 



Fig. 8.5. The Purple Those in search of this pretty insect 



Haibstreak — M.ALE. sliould ramble in oak woods, preferably 



in the south of England, during July 



and August The eggs may be found glued to the twigs throughout 



the winter, and the larvic may be beaten from the branches of the 



oak in June. 



The colour of the caterpillar is brownish or pinkish green, with 

 a row of V-shaped marks down the back. 



The chrysalis is of a brown colour, short and thick, and may be 

 found either attached to oak leaves, or under the surface of the 

 earth at the foot of the tree on which tlie caterpillar fed. 



The Green Hairstreah {Thecla Bubi) 



Next to QuercHS, this is the most plentiful of the genus. It 



freqi;ents woods and heaths in nearly every county in England, and 



is also found in parts of Scotland and Ireland. It is peculiar 



among British butterflies as being the only 



one that exhibits a bright green coloiir. It 



also differs from the other Hairstreaks in two 



important particulars, for the hind wings, 



though angled at the hind margin, are not 



' tailed,' and the characteristic hairstreak 



Fig 8() —The Green wliich gives the popular name to the genus is 



Hairstreak. here represented onl}' by a series of white 



dots across the wings, or, in some cases, by 



one or two dots on the hind wings only. 



The upper side is dark brown, displaying metallic reflections 

 when viewed in a strong light. The under side is represented in 

 fi". 7 of Plate VI. 



