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without any gloss, with a dorsal stripe of a darker and bluish green, having 

 a stoutish line of paler green running through the middle, and bordered out- 

 side in stronger contrast by a stout line of green still paler than the ground : 

 the head is of rather a deeper green than the body, and rough with minute 

 points : there is also a transverse path of white on the front of the ventral 

 surface of the eleventh and twelfth segments. It is cylindrical in shape, but 

 tapers towards both extremities. It feeds on soft-haired grasses, Holcus 

 lanatns, Brachypodum sylvaticum, &c., and spins little ropes of silk across 

 the blades of grass, making little web coverings. When ready to turn into 

 chrysalis it encloses itself within two or three leaves of the grass, joined 

 together longitudinally by lacing or spinning with white silk. 



The chrysalis is of the same light green as that of the caterpillar, of which 

 the paler lines can still be faintly traced. It has a pointed head-case, and 

 is very sharply tapered towards the tail, much resembling in form that of 

 H. action. 



The butterfly appears on the wing in July and the beginning of August ; 

 the egg is laid on the food-plant, and the caterpillar hybernates quite small, 

 feeding up in the spring, and assuming the chrysalis state in June. 



Hesperia linea is found all over Europe except the extreme north, and 

 occurs also in Asia Minor, Persia, and North Africa. It is generally distri- 

 buted in England, but most abundant in the south. It does not appear 

 to frequent either Durham or Northumberland, nor has it been taken in 

 Scotland or the Isle of Man, but Mr. Birchall has taken it in Ireland at 

 Powers-court, and near Cork, arid it probably frequents many other places in 

 the Emerald Isle. 



It was first described as a British species in Bay's " Historia Insectorium," 

 1710, and recorded as appearing in pastures in the begining of July. 



Petiver, in his " Papilionum Britannicse Icones," 1717, calls the male the 

 " Spotless Hag," and the female the " Streakt Golden Hag/' In his " Gaz. 

 Nat/' he records it as being taken by Mr, Dandridge. 



Moses Harris, in his " A urelian," 1778, writes, "Small Skipper. The 

 caterpillar of this fly is also undiscovered. The moth flies in woods, and its 

 actions are also similar to the above ; but there is only one brood a year 

 and they appear about the middle of July/' 



Lewin, in his " Insects of Great Britain," 1795, writes, " This minute fly 

 is met with on heath, common, and lanes, in most parts of England. It is first 

 out on the wing the beginning of July, and may be readily taken ; as it flies 

 but little, and frequently settles, and skips from leaf to leaf on low bushes, 

 rather than take wing when disturbed. The caterpillar of this species is 

 likewise unknown/' 



