376 
HESPERIIDAE 
remains completely hidden and feeds upon the surrounding 
grass. It appears to be nocturnal as it remains quietly resting 
during the day, but is most difficult to detect, being so well 
hidden. 
When about ioo days old, and after the fourth moult, 
the larva attains full growth and measures 28 mm. in length. 
The head is black, granular and sprinkled with numerous 
tiny spines ; there are two ochreous lines down the crown, 
and the clypeus forms an ochreous A marking. The first 
segment is very small and is freely retractile ; the elastic 
anterior half is of a lilac-flesh colour, the hinder half bears a 
shining black collar encircling the upper half of the segment. 
The following segments gradually increase in size to the sixth 
and taper from the ninth to the last. The body is covered 
with exceedingly small granulations, and is densely sprinkled 
with minute black shining warts, each bearing a tiny amber- 
coloured spine. The surface is also sprinkled with minute 
lenticles; the spiracles are conspicuous, black and shining. 
The ventral anterior half of the tenth and eleventh segments 
is covered with a white, rough, granular waxy substance. 
The anal comb for the ejectment of the excreta consists of 
about fifteen or sixteen tines, all of nearly uniform length, 
not fan-shaped as in the Large Skipper. 
If the larva is touched while crawling, it frequently wriggles 
backwards very rapidly, similar to the wiggling habit of 
many micro-larvae. 
When about to pupate, the larva spins a strong, coarse 
cocoon among the grass close to the surface, weaving the 
gnawed loose pieces of grass with the fine stems and blades, 
and pupates during the latter part of July. The larval stage 
occupies about 100 days. The larva is solitary. 
Pupa. The pupa averages 19 mm. in length. The head is 
rounded ; the thorax is swollen ; the abdomen is slender and 
attenuated, terminating in a long anal point furnished at the 
end with an ample bunch of hooks, which are securely fastened 
to a pad of silk spun for the purpose at the end of the cocoon. 
The pupa is covered with short spines, below the spiracles 
they form dense tufts \ those covering the head are remark¬ 
able ; the longer ones end in a hook and are in patches ; the 
largest patch covers the eye. The hooks are attached to the 
