SKIPPERS. 



169 



2. CONCEALERS (in science CELANTES), 



Of which the caterpillars hide themselves in a silken follicle or cocoon before changing 



into chrysalids. 



Turning back to page 18, it will be 

 seen that I propose to divide all butterflies 

 into two primary groups, which I call Ex- 

 posers (Detengentes) and Concealers (Celantes); 

 the former undergo their transformation to 

 chrysalids in the most open and exposed 

 situations, and quite uncovered ; the latter 

 undergo the change concealed in a cocoon, 

 after the manner of moths. In Britain the 

 Concealers are lew in number, of small size, 

 and of very insignificant appearance; they are 

 universally known amongst us by the name 

 of " Skippers." In all our arrangements of 

 British insects these merry little creatures 

 seem out of place ; that is, there is no con- 

 tinuity in any series which combines the 

 Ex posers and the Concealers, and I am per- 

 fectly aware that this which I am proposing 

 does not remedy the defect ; but an attentive 

 study of exotic forms will show that the gulf 

 between the two groups is not so wide as it 

 appears to us who are acquainted only with 

 our Skippers. Between the Exposers and 

 the Skippers intervene three beautiful and 

 interesting families of butterflies, called in 

 scientific nomenclature Doritidce, Uranldce, 

 and Synemonidce ; they have all the general 

 superficial appearance of Exposers, combined 

 with all the natural and essential charac- 

 ters of Concealers. One of Doritidce, called 

 Doritis Stubbendorffii, so exactly resembles 

 Aporia Cratcegi, that it might easily be mis- 

 taken for that insect; an other, of which a repre- 

 sentation is given at p. 175, has frequently been 

 described and figured as British; and although 

 I am unable to refer to any British specimen, 

 and therefore cannot include it in a British 

 list, I think there is no improbability of its oc- 

 currence on the Scottish Alps, so similar in 

 character to the Swiss Alps--, where it abounds; 

 but at present the evidence, as given hereafter, 

 is insufficient for my own satisfaction. 



Family 12. SKIPPERS (in science Hesperidas). 



The caterpillars are smooth, and have gene- 

 rally large heads and shuttle-shaped bodies ; 

 they feed on a variety of plants, b utmost 

 frequently on leguminous species and grasses ; 

 when full-fed the spin silken cocoons among 

 the leaves or stalks of their food-plants, and 

 in these turn into chrysalids which are with- 

 out angles, more or less pointed at the head, 

 and slender and tapering at the other ex- 

 tremity : they are very active, wriggling 

 when annoyed with great vigour ; some have 

 a slight attachment by the tail, but none are 

 suspended or girted. The butterfly has six 

 perfect legs, all of them formed for walking : 

 the fore wings, when the butterfly is at rest, are 

 held in a semi-erect position; I havenever seen 

 them appressed back to back, as is usual in 

 the more normal butterflies ; the hind wings 

 are held horizontally, or nearly so. The flight 

 of Skippers is brisk and devoid of grace ; it 

 is rather more like the blundering flight 

 of a full-bodied moth than the business-like 

 progress made by a butterfly. 



Obs. Some entomologists prefer dividing 

 this little group of butterflies into several 

 genera or minor groups; but not being a ware 

 of the advantage of this subdivision, I have 

 followed Herrich-Schseflfer in keeping them 

 together and calling them all ffesperia. It 

 may, however, be observed that Paniscus, con- 

 stituting the genus Carterocephalus, as well as 

 Sylvamis and Comma which, like so many 

 exotic species, possess uncinate or hooked 

 antennae offer noteworthy characters. The 

 British species might, therefore, be divided 

 without impropriety. 



60. GRIZZLED SKIPPER. The antennae are 

 slender at the base and gradually thickened to 

 the tip, which is bent but not hooked ; they 

 are of a smoky black colour, annulated with 



