THE SMALL HEATH. 137 



not infrequently set in reddish-brown spots, and then become 

 rather more noticable (Fig. 14). This form is var. ocellata, 

 Tutt. 



The egg is green at first, afterwards becoming whitish or 

 bone-colour ; later on a brownish irregular ring appears a 

 little above the middle, and there are various brownish freckles. 

 It is finely ribbed, and the top is depressed, forming a hollow 

 with a central boss. Laid in a cluster of four on a blade of 

 grass, but this may have been accidental. Others were de- 

 posited singly on muslin and on fine grass, all in mid-June. 

 The caterpillar is of a clear green colour, " with darker green 

 dorsal stripe, and a spiracular stripe not so dark ; the anal 

 points pink" (Hellins). 



The chrysalis is of " a delicate pale rather yellowish-green, 

 with a faintly darker green dorsal stripe, the edge of the pro- 

 jecting wing-covers on each side whitish, outlined with a streak 

 of reddish-brown ; the abdomen freckled very delicately with 

 paler green ; the tip of the anal point, with a short streak 

 of brownish-red on each side ; the wing-cases faintly marked 

 with darker green nervures " (Buckler). 



The figures of caterpillar and chrysalis on Plate 93 are from 

 Buckler's " Larvse of British Butterflies." 



Some caterpillars, from eggs laid in May or June, become full- 

 grown in four or five weeks, and appear as butterflies in August, 

 but others do not complete their growth until the following 

 spring. Just exactly what happens in the case of eggs from 

 autumn females does not seem to be very definitely ascertained. 

 It has, however, been stated that caterpillars hatching from 

 eggs laid in August, attain the size of the slow-growing con- 

 tingent from May eggs, and then hibernate. Probably, there- 

 fore, it is these that produce the July butterflies, and if so, the 

 succession of emergencies may be something in this way : 

 May and June butterflies from May and June eggs (twelve 

 months' cycle), July butterflies from August eggs (eleven months 



