THE SMALL HEATH 
79 
of silk spun on a grass stem by its anal claspers and hangs 
in the form of a hook for about four days, then pupates. 
The normal period of the larval stage is about 270 days. 
Pupa. The pupa is 8*5 mm. long and stout in proportion ; 
the head is truncated ; the thorax slightly keeled and swollen 
dorsally; the abdomen is rounded and swollen in the middle 
and curved to the anal segment, which terminates in a point 
amply provided with long rich amber-coloured hooks ; the 
wings are bulging ; the inner margin of the wing is streaked 
with drab-brown and 
white, two other brown 
streaks run parallel to the 
nervures, one about the 
middle, the other near the 
apex. Two rows of white 
warts extend along the 
abdomen, one pair on each 
segment. At first the col¬ 
our is brilliant light green. 
When four days old and 
the colour is mature, it is 
whitish-green finely irror- 
ated with darker green, 
giving it a clear brilliant 
green effect; down the 
middle of the back is a 
darker green stripe. The ^ 
pupa is attached by the r 
cremastral hooks to a pad 
of silk spun on a grass blade or stem. The pupal state lasts 
26 days. 
Imago. Sexual difference: generally the female is the 
larger and without the dark marginal borders. The average 
expanse of the wings in the male is 33 mm. ; in the female, 
37 mm. Male . — The ground colour is a rich yellow-ochre, 
inclining to fulvous, with marginal borders smoky-brown, and 
a sub-apical black spot ringed with pale ochreous. The basal 
half of the hind wing is clouded with greyish, a central pale 
band produced by the markings of the under surface showing 
through the wing. The fringes are whitish. The under side 
'he Small Heath at rest, heading a strong 
orth-westerly wind. Sketched from life. 
