THE SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER. 193 



lines on the back and sides. After hibernation (the figure of 

 this stage of the caterpillar is from Buckler), in May, the 

 caterpillar is about one inch long, pale green in colour ; the 

 skin is thickly covered with very short dark brown bristles, 

 " the head dirty white with a dark brown stripe down the outer 

 edge of each lobe, the neck whitish-green" (Hellins). 



The chrysalis was formed in the grass cocoon shown with it. 

 The general colour was brown with the wing-cases darker, and 

 a darker suffusion on the back. 



The egg-laying of this butterfly has been observed by Mr. 

 Ullyett, who states that the female, having selected a suitable 

 grass-stem, deposits eggs in a line in a sheath formed by the 

 leaf round the stem. The caterpillars hibernate in tubes of 

 grass, and feed up in the spring. 



This butterfly has been supposed to be double brooded, but 

 there does not seem to be any direct evidence that this is so. 

 It is on the wing in grassy places on the slopes of downs and 

 other hillsides, also in rides, and on the margins of woods, 

 from early June until well into July, and sometimes even later 

 in the year. It is found in most of our English counties, and 

 also in Scotland, south of the Forth. In Ireland it is not 

 uncommon in a meadow in Lord Kenmare's demesne, Killarney, 

 and has been recorded from the Morrough of Wicklow. 



Abroad its distribution extends through Europe and Northern 

 Asia to China and Japan, and also to North Africa. 



The Silver-spotted Skipper {Augiades comma). 



This butterfly is very similar on the upper side to the Large 

 Skipper, but the spots, especially those nearest the front edge 

 of the fore wings, are yellower. On the under side the greenish 

 tinge of the ground colour, and the silvery spots, make the 

 identification quite easy. The black sex mark in the male is 

 very similar to that of the last species (Plate 126). 



