358 
HESPERIIDAE 
and the broad rough roadways overgrown with wild flowers 
and grass and which traverse the larger woods. Its flight is 
short but very rapid as it darts from flower to flower of the 
Bugle (Ajuga rcptans), which appears particularly attractive 
to its taste. It is also very fond of resting full in the sun’s 
rays, with expanded wings, on the broader grass blades. 
While at rest on a flower-head or grass blade during dull 
weather, or at night, it sits with its wings tightly closed over 
its back. It is extremely local in distribution and is chiefly 
confined to a few localities, the chief being the larger woods 
in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. It 
has been recorded from other counties, especially Huntingdon¬ 
shire. Abroad it is locally common in Central Europe, 
Finland, Russia, Dalmatia, Piedmont, also parts of North 
America. 
Time of Appearance. This active little butterfly is single- 
brooded, appearing on the wing for a short time only, i.e. 
during the last week of May and first half of June. 
Hibernation. C. palaemon passes hibernation in the larval 
state, which lasts from the middle of October until the 
middle of March. 
Egg and Egg Laying. The eggs are laid singly and are 
firmly attached to the blades of grasses ; the grass usually 
chosen is the slender False Brome Grass (Brachypodium 
sylvaticum ). The egg is of a compressed conical shape, 
0*60 mm. wide and 0^50 mm. high. The surface is minutely 
granulated and over the crown is a fine network pattern of 
white reticulations which run into fine striations over the 
side to the base ; the intervening spaces are finely ribbed. 
The colour is yellowish-white with opaline reflections, giving 
it a pearly appearance. The egg stage lasts ten days. 
Larva. Soon after emerging from the. egg, the little larva 
starts making a little tubular dwelling by drawing the edges 
of the grass blade together with three or four cords of silk, 
each cord composed of a great number of strands. These 
quickly contract, causing the edges of the grass to draw 
together, forming a short, compact tube. Generally before 
spinning, the larva nibbles off the extreme edge of the blade, 
where it afterwards attaches the silk. It feeds upon the blade 
both above and below its abode, and often devours so much 
