14 BUTTERFLIES 



PLATE VII 

 THE SMALL HEATH (2) 



Of course you know this butterfly very well 

 indeed by sigbt, for it is extremely common every- 

 where on heaths and downs and in grassy fields 

 and in lanes from the beginning of June until 

 the end of September. You may often see it 

 gambolling about in company with "meadow- 

 browns" and the pretty little blue butterflies, 

 which are generally so common at the same time 

 of the year. It is quite a small insect, for it only 

 measures about an inch and a quarter across 

 the wings; but in Scotland, strange to say, it 

 is generally a good deal larger than it is in 

 England. 



The caterpillar of this butterfly is a little apple- 

 green creature, with a darker stripe edged with 

 white running along its back, and another along 

 each of its sides. It feeds upon grass, and when 

 it is fully fed it spins a kind of silken belt round 

 a grass stem, fastens itself to it with its head 

 hanging downwards, and then changes into a 

 bright green chrysalis with a short purple stripe, 

 bordered with white, on each side. 



