29^ 



FAMILY HESPERIDJE. 

 (Skippers.) 



This group is so named because of the skipping 

 method of flight of the adults. These butterflies 

 are among the small and medium sized. Brilliant 

 colours are absent. 



Characters. — The larva has a large head followed 

 by a narrow neck-region. The body increases in 

 size towards the centre and tapers towards the tail. 

 Usually smooth; in a few cases sparsely covered 

 with hairs. 



Pupa (Plate 35, Fig. 6) is elongate, attached by 

 the tail to the surface of a leaf, and the leaf is 

 often curled, or several leaves are fastened together 

 by threads and the larva pupates in this shelter. 

 By some authors this group is regarded as a typo 

 between moths and butterflies, its general structure 

 and flight being of the butterfly habit, while the 

 sheltering habit and the thickness of the body 

 suggests the moth habit. 



The bodies of the adults are thick and strong; 

 head is large, antenn<T3 wide apart and terminating 

 in elongate clubs with slightly curved hooks. The 

 flight is quick and strong. 



Type: The banded skipper {Erynnis sperthias) 

 is one of the largest skippers, but as far as butter- 

 flies go, it is small. The male has wings of brown and 

 gold. The female is bright bfli-own, with dull yellow 

 blotches. 



