PLATE XXXII. 
No. 1.—The Large Skipper Butterfly (Pamphila No. 4.—The Pearl Skipper Butterfly (Pamphila 
Sylvanus). Comma). 
No. 2.—The Female of the Large Skipper. No. 5.—The Female of the Pearl Skipper. 
No. 3.—The Large Skipper, showing the Under No. 6.—The Pearl Skipper, showing the Under side. 
side. No. 7.—The Caterpillar of the Pearl Skipper. 
PAMPHILA SYLVANUS (the Large Skipper, Nos. 1 to 3). This species, which is the largest 
of the British Skippers, frequently exceeds in dimension the specimen for which my figure was 
drawn. Ihave seen specimens measuring fully an inch and a-half from tip to tip across the 
front pair of wings. 
The Caterpillar is described by Zeller as being of a dull green, speckled with black, with a 
dorsal line of darker colour, and having underneath, on the tenth or eleventh segments, white 
transverse spots. It feeds on the Meadow Soft-grass (Holcws lanatus), and also on other Grasses, 
in May ; and probably appears again in the autumn, as the species is undoubtedly double 
brooded. 
The perfect insect appears in May and again in August, the early brood resulting from the 
autumnal hatch of Caterpillars, and the August brood from the Caterpillars, which become full 
fed towards the end of May. 
It is very widely distributed, and always more or less abundant, frequenting in preference 
the borders of woods and shady lanes ; but being also found in open parts of the country. It 
is perhaps more abundant in the southern than in the northern counties ; Brighton, Plymouth, 
Teignmouth, and other places being cited as localities in which it has appeared very abundantly. 
Pamphila Comma (the Pearl Skipper, or Silver-spotted Skipper, Nos. 4 to 7). This is a 
very local species, but plentiful in places where it occurs. It is distinguished from all the other 
species of this pretty genus by the pearly or silvery spots by which the under side of the wings 
(No. 6) are conspicuously marked. It however accords perfectly in general character with its 
congeners, the male being distinguished by the short black diagonal streak, and the female 
(No. 5) by the lighter tone of the ground colour of the wings, their more speckled appearance, 
and the total absence of the black diagonal streak, which distinguishes the anterior wings of the 
other sex. 
The Caterpillar (No. 7) feeds on papilionaceous plants, such as Birds-foot-Trefoil, and others 
of that family. On the Continent it is known to feed on the Coronilla varia. It first appears 
early in June, and is full fed about the middle of July. 
The perfect insect is found in August ; frequenting in greatest abundance chalky districts 
in open or elevated situations. The chalk downs in the neighbourhood of Lewes, Sussex, are 
recorded as a locality in which it has been recently very abundant. Towards the north it is 
less plentiful, yet far from scarce in many places, especially at Scarborough, where it is some- 
times tolerably plentiful. 
Having now completed the description and illustration of the whole of our Native Butter- 
flies, it remains only to address a few words to enthusiastic collectors, urging them by diligent 
