THE GRAYLING. 119 



The caterpillars hatch in August, hibernate when quite small, 

 and feed up in the spring and early summer. They live 

 upon grasses, such as Triticum reft ens, Air a coesftitosa, and A. 

 prcecox. 



The butterfly delights in sitting rather than flying about cliffs 

 and sand-hills, heaths and downs, stony hill-sides, dry fields, and 

 even open woodlands. It is fond of sunning itself on rocks, 

 and by some of the old Aurelians it was called the " Rock 

 Underwing," no doubt in reference to the pattern and colour of 

 the under side. It was also known as the "Tunbridge Gray- 

 ling " some two hundred years ago, when it was said to be 

 " very rare about London." It has long since been ascertained 

 to occur in almost every county in England and Wales, as far 

 north as Sutherlandshire in Scotland, and is widely distributed 

 in Ireland. 



On the chalk downs and cliffs the butterfly has the under 

 side of its hind wings so admirably agreeing in colour and 

 marking with the soil, etc., that although one may watch it 

 settle a few yards ahead, it is not to be seen when one reaches 

 the spot. Whilst we are intent on the search the insect starts 

 up, flies a short distance, and there repeats the disappearing 

 butterfly trick. The same remarks apply to those Graylings 

 that affect peaty or sandy heaths, etc. When the butterfly 

 alights on the ground— and it rarely gets on the wing unless 

 disturbed — it immediately closes its wings, and then allows them 

 to .fall more or less on one side, so that the whole of one hind 

 wing is presented to view. It is said to have a fancy for the 

 resinous sap that oozes from pine trees, and has also been 

 observed to visit the trunks that have been "sugared." 



Abroad, it is found commonly throughout the temperate parts 

 of Europe, North Africa, and Northern and Western Asia. 



