THE BLACK HAIRSTREAK 
283 
Edward Newman, who identified 
them as 5. pruni. From that time to 
the present, Monkswood has been 
and is still, the headquarters of the 
Black Hairstreak. It is a woodland 
species and is confined to a small area 
of the Midlands, Huntingdonshire, 
N orthamptonshire, Cambridgeshire 
and, possibly, Buckinghamshire; but 
it occurs only in localised spots. 
Abroad it ranges over the greater 
part of Europe and is found in Amur- 
land ; it is also recorded from Corea. 
This little butterfly frequents Privet bushes in bloom, also the 
blossoms of the Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) ; when dis¬ 
turbed, it flies up high around the trees. Privet blossoms appear 
to be its greatest attraction. During dull weather and at night 
it rests on the under surface of leaves, often those of the Bramble. 
Time of Appearance. There is but one brood only in the 
year; the normal time for its appearance is from about 
June 20th to July 10th. 
Hibernation. Hibernation is passed in the egg stage, which 
lasts about nine months. 
Egg and Egg Laying. When ready to deposit the eggs, the 
female settles on the taller and older Blackthorn bushes 
(Primus communis ), on which it may be seen leisurely crawling 
about the foliage and stems ; on the latter she deposits her 
eggs singly at the base of the forks of the 
smaller branches. The egg exactly re¬ 
sembles a small brown bud. 
The egg is a compressed spheroid in shape, 
o*8o mm. wide and 0*40 mm. high. The 
whole surface is covered with irregular 
reticulations of a network pattern, chiefly 
in the form of hexagons ; at the juncture of 
each mesh is a raised point with a cleft, 
knobbed apex. The ground colour is pale 
buff, the reticulations rust-brown and the 
points dark brown. During the winter it 
gradually becomes paler in colour ; in mid- 
Spiracle of the pup£ 
of the Black Hair 
streak (highly 
magnified). 
si 
Pupa of the Black 
Hairstreak. 
