THE SKIPPERS. 163 



from flower ta flower : hence their name. They are 

 chiefly distinguished scientifically from other butterflies 

 by the form of the antennae, which are more or less 

 hooked at the tip (see one magnified on Plate II. 

 fig. 14), by the great width of the head, and the dis- 

 tance between the roots of the antennae, by their moth- 

 like habit of rolling up leaves for their habitation 

 when caterpillars, and by spinning a cocoon for the 

 chrysalis. The caterpillars are shaped as in fig. 11, 

 Plate I. j the chrysalides, as in figs. 26 and 27. There 

 are seven British species. 



THE GEIZZLED SKIPPER 



(Thymele Alveolus.) (Plate XV. fig. 1.) 



The ground colour of this smart little butterfly is very 

 dark brown, or black, with a greenish hue over it, and it 

 is sharply marked with squarish spots of cream?/ white. 

 The fringe is also chequered with the same colours. 

 Sexes similar in appearance. 



The caterpillar feeds on the wild Easpberry, also, it 

 is said, on Potentilla alba, and P. anserina, and is 

 greenish, with white lines 



The butterfly appears in May, and again in August, 

 being double-brooded. It appears to be common in 

 grassy wood-openings all over the country, extending 

 also into the south of Scotland. 

 kS 



