LEPIDOPTERA. 77 



similarity in the colouring of the male and female) used 

 to frequent the fens of Cambridge and Huntingdon : the 

 latter has been taken, many years ago, in Epping and 

 Ashdovvn forests. 



The Hesperidce includes the *' skippers" — so called 

 from their short, jerky flight — of wliich there are seven 

 British species ; all are of small size, and generally brown 

 or yellowish in colour. The species belonging to this 

 family approach the Heterocera, or moths, in some 

 respects, both in form and habit ; the body is thicker in 

 proportion than is usual in butterflies, the tibia have 

 only one pair of spines, like moths. In some species the 

 fore-wings are erect while at rest, the hind-wings folding 

 the body horizontally. The antennse are widely sepa- 

 rated at their insertion on each side of the head ; the 

 larva spins a cocoon, as do many motlis. Many of the 

 species of Hesperidoe are local. Thymele alveolus, the 

 grizzled skipper, with wings nearly black, tinged with 

 green, and sprinkled with white spots, is not uncommon 

 in woods. 



The Heterocera, or Moth section of the Lepidoptera, 

 may be divided into the nine following groups or 

 families : — 



1. Sphingina. 



2. Bombycina. 



3. Noctuina. 



4. Geometrina. 



5. Pyralidina. 



6. Tortricina. 



7. Tineina. 



S Pterophorina. 

 9. Alucitina, 



