CCENONYMPHA PAMPHILUS. l6l 



would be hardly possible to have a day with the net and 

 not meet with a Small Heath. But though our little 

 friend is common, and particularly sober-tinted, it has 

 one very great merit, it appears early in the spring, and 

 lingers, with the Small Copper for a companion, till quite 

 late in the autumn, when the majority of the butterfly 

 tribe are either dead or laid-up for their winter sleep. 



No localities need be given for so ubiquitous a butter- 

 fly as the Small Heath; it is found throughout the 



178 



176 ^w 



177 



i?9 

 COZNONYMPHA PAMPHILUS. 



British Isles, the Scotch specimens being finer than those 

 produced farther south. Its flight is extremely weak, 

 and the veriest novice with the net could scarcely find 

 much difficulty in procuring specimens ; but it has the 

 habit, common to many of the Ringlet tribe, of suddenly 

 stopping in its flight, when, on closing its wings, it often 

 seems to disappear as if by magic, in which case its 

 pursuer would scarcely stay to search for it, but would 

 look out for the next comer. 



M 



