124 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



found in some localities, such as the slopes of Dartmoor, Devon, 

 as mentioned by Barrett. 



The ground colour varies in tint, darker or lighter than 

 normal, but specimens of a bright golden yellow-brown, straw 

 colour, or whitish are known to occur, although such extreme 

 aberrations are exceptional. 



The egg is pale green when first laid, and in shape it is almost 

 spherical, but rather higher than broad ; it is finely ribbed and 

 reticulated, but unless examined through a lens it appears to be 

 quite smooth. 



The caterpillar when full grown is whitish-green, dotted with 

 white. From the larger of these dots on the back arise greyish 

 bristles ; the three lines on the back (dorsal and sub-dorsal) 

 are whitish, edged with dark green ; the line on the sides 

 (spiracular) is white, fringed with greyish hairs ; anal points 

 green, hairy, extreme tips white. Head larger than the first 

 ring (ist thoracic segment), green dotted with white and hairy, 

 jaws marked with brownish. It feeds on grasses. 



The chrysalis is green, with yellow-tinted white markings on 

 the edge of the wing covers and ridges ; the spots on the body 

 are yellowish, or sometimes white. Occasionally the chrysalids 

 are blackish, with white or yellow points on the body. 



There are certainly two broods of this butterfly in the season, 

 and in favourable years there may be three broods. In an 

 ordinary way the first flight is in May and June, and the second 

 flight in July and August. The caterpillars feed on Poa annua, 

 Dactylis glomerata, etc. Those hatched in autumn hibernate 

 more or less completely, and become full grown in early or late 

 spring according to the season. Sometimes, however, they 

 seem to feed during the winter, and assume the chrysalis in 

 March. Probably it is from such precocious caterpillars that 

 the butterflies sometimes seen in April result. 



The Speckled Wood, it was noted, prefers shady places ; the 

 present butterfly is more partial to sunshine and plenty of it. 



