l8o THE BOOK OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



the eye can follow the little gem as it alternately opens 

 and closes its wings, any number of strokes of the 

 net may be taken without the insect displaying much 

 concern. 



No localities need be given for a butterfly which 'is 

 common everywhere and in many diverse situations ; it 

 seems, however, to prefer heaths and other open, uncul- 

 tivated spots. 



The Small Copper appears to be three-brooded, the 

 larvae resulting from the last brood passing the winter in 

 that stage. The eggs are laid on the leaves of various 

 species of Dock, amongst them being the Broad-leaved 

 Dock (Rumex obtusifolius), the Common Sorrel (R. Ace- 

 tosa\ the Sheep's Sorrel (R. Acetosella\ and the. Fiddle- 

 dock (R. pulcher). They hatch in about a fortnight, 

 and the larvae are full-grown in about three weeks. The 

 three flights of imagines appear in April, June, and 

 August or September. 



The larva (Fig. 200) resembles in shape that of the 

 Hairstreaks : the dorsal surface is convex and the ventral 

 flat, concealing the legs and claspers. The segments are 

 distinctly separated, and the small, brown head is re- 

 tractile within the second. The green body is covered 

 dorsally with very tiny flesh-coloured dots, each emitting a 

 brown bristle, and sometimes bears a faint brownish 

 medio-dorsal line. 



The stout, blunt chrysalis is suspended by the anal 

 extremity, and girt. Except the anterior ventral part, 

 the surface is covered with very short, flesh-coloured hairs. 

 The colour is pale whitish-brown, sprinkled with numerous 

 darker brown markings, which arrange themselves so as to 

 form seven series, one being medio-dorsal and six lateral. 

 The antenna-, leg-, and wing-cases are also adorned with 

 dark markings. 



