186 HALF-HOUKS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



midst of their most congenial food. The grub has 

 a very flattened appearance, with three large leading 

 segments. When full grown it attaches itself to a 

 leaf by the extremity of its body, and enters the 

 pupal state, in which it is protected by its previously 

 cast-off skin. The full-grown lady-birds frequently 

 hybernate during the winter, so that they may make 

 their appearance on any fine, warm day in winter or 

 early spring. 



Fig. 129 



The Ladybird ( Coccinella -j-punctaia). a, Larva ; 6, Pupa ; 

 c, Perfect insect. 



Whilst half-carelessly, half seriously, amusing 

 yourself during a walk by turning over all kinds of 

 objects, more for amusement than anything else, 

 you must have noticed leaves, especially of the 

 bramble or blackberry, which were streaked over 

 with sinuous markings. These are due to the 

 work of minute larvae of various insects, eating away 

 the green matter between the upper and under sides 

 of the leaf. No fewer than four orders of insects 

 have members which indulge in this mode of getting 



