210 THE BOOK OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



pinching the thorax ; such a proceeding would almost 

 certainly destroy the beauty of the specimen. All 

 Skippers had better be boxed and taken home, or 

 killed in the cyanide-bottle on the spot. 



The perfect insect is out in May, and continues but 

 a short time upon the wing. The eggs are laid about 

 the beginning of June on the Bramble (Rubus fruticosus], 

 the Strawberry-leaved Potentilla (Potentilla Fragariastruni), 

 and perhaps on the Musk Mallow (Malva moschata), 

 the Raspberry (Rubus Idceus), the Wild Strawberry 

 (Fragaria vescd), and possibly one or two species of 

 Potentilla besides that mentioned above. The eggs hatch 



244 



245 



SYRICHTHUS 



in nine or ten days, and the pupae may be found about 

 September. 



The larva (Fig. 244), which is between ?in. and Jin. 

 in length when full-grown, is somewhat spindle-shaped. 

 The body is yellowish-green, with a reddish tinge on the 

 fore-part of the back, and is covered with short hairs. 

 There are indistinct dorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular 

 lines, and the head is dark brown. 



The long, smooth, unangled pupa is contained in a 

 slight cocoon between bramble-leaves fastened together 

 by threads of silk. The dorsal surface bears reddish- 

 brown hairs. The ground-colour is reddish-grey, the 

 wing-cases having a pinkish tinge and the dorsal surface 



