FIELD NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES 



take wing, but only to flap lazily away a short distance 

 If there happens to be a strong breeze they may be 

 wafted in the direction of the cornfields, but they 

 will return to their headquarters ere long. Here, 

 too, we shall probably see a few specimens of the 

 chalk hill blue ; but as we ascend the down on the 

 other side of the hedge these butterflies will be more 

 in evidence. The males are blue, but the females are 

 brown and less active on the wing than the males, 

 and have important maternal duties to attend to, 

 so that they are more often observed crawling about 

 among the herbage seeking a suitable stem here, or 

 a leaf there, upon which to place an egg or two. Later 

 on both sexes will have retired to their sleeping quarters, 

 the males on the flower stems of grass or other plants, 

 and the females frequently in a more lowly position. 

 This habit, which is common to all kinds of blue butter- 

 flies, as well as the small coppers and some others 

 is very convenient to the entomologist, as it enables him 

 to examine large numbers without much trouble to 

 himself or injury to the insect. 



The exceedingly nimble little yellowish butterfly 

 that we have seen so frequently, but which has eluded 

 close inspection, so far, is the silver-spotted skipper. 

 There is one on that flower-head of the low-growing 

 thistle. As is usual when these butterflies settle the 

 wings are closed, and only the undersides of them can 



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