Seasonal Notes 



583 



several species may now be looked for, such as the three 

 " Whites," the Orange Tip, the Holly Blue and the Common 

 Blue, the Small Copper and the Grizzled and Dingy Skippers. 

 It is worth observing that the early brood of the " Whites" 

 differs from the autumn brood in the intensity and size of the 

 dark markings, and the size and position of the dark spot on 

 the upper wing of the male Orange Tip is subject to some 

 variation. The Small Copper is also a very variable insect. 



Most of the hibernating larvae are now feeding, and a 

 search among the whitethorn bushes with a lantern after 

 dusk is likely to prove profitable. The large and handsome 

 larva of the Lappet Moth, and the larvae of several species of 

 Yellow Underwings, can be found in this way, and from now 

 till their time of pupation in early summer they will be very 

 voracious. It is therefore of the utmost importance to keep 

 them supplied with an abundance of fresh food, and at the 

 same time to give them plenty of air space. The size of the 

 resultant imagines depends to a great extent on this, especially 

 during the period immediately before pupation, when they not 

 only eat a great deal, but they also take a great deal of 

 exercise. 



Many larvae will have already emerged from the egg, and 

 in many cases diligent search has to be made for food far 

 enough advanced for them. One precocious larva of the 

 pretty little silver-studded Blue, which is to be found in 

 the clearings near the Inval Woods, Haslemere, had the 

 temerity to appear on March 19, far in advance of his fellows, 

 and a careful search had to be made for Bird's Foot Trefoil, 

 which was only just beginning to shoot forth. It is to be 

 observed that the egg of this species is an object of peculiar 

 beauty when seen under a microscope. 



