Against the idea of _Agestis_ and _Artaxerxes_ being one species, it has been objected, that the former is double, the latter single brooded. What of that? Plenty of species that are double-brooded in the south of Europe are well known to become single-brooded in a more northern situation. The _caterpillar_ is said to be exactly like that of _Agestis_. It feeds on _Helianthemum vulgare_ (Rock Cistus). The _butterfly_ is found in July and August in several parts of Scotland, and the north of England. Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, has been long noted for producing it. [Illustration: XIV.] {163} THE SKIPPERS. (Family--_Hesperidæ_.) These curious little butterflies form a very natural group; in many respects, both of structure and habits, approaching the moths, and therefore placed at the end of the butterflies. They are of small size, but robust appearance, and not brightly coloured. Their flight is rapid, but of short continuance, and they seem to _skip_ from flower to flower: hence their name. They are chiefly distinguished scientifically from other butterflies by the form of the _antennæ_, which are more or less hooked at the tip (see one magnified on Plate II. fig. 14), by the great width of the head, and the distance between the roots of the _antennæ_, by their moth-like habit of rolling up leaves for their habitation when caterpillars, and by spinning a _cocoon_ for the chrysalis. The caterpillars are shaped as in fig. 11, Plate I.; the chrysalides, as in figs. 26 and 27. There are _seven British species_. * * * * * THE GRIZZLED SKIPPER. (_Thymele Alveolus._) (Plate XV. fig. 1.) The ground colour of this smart little butterfly is very dark _brown, or black, with a greenish hue_ over it, and it is sharply marked with squarish spots of _creamy white_. The _fringe_ is also _chequered with_ the same colours. Sexes similar in appearance. The _caterpillar_ feeds on the wild Raspberry, also, it is said, on _Potentilla alba_, and _P. anserina_, and is greenish, with white lines. The _butterfly_ appears in May, and again in August, being double-brooded. It appears to be common in grassy wood-openings all over the country, extending also into the south of Scotland. * * * * * {164} THE DINGY SKIPPER. (_Thanaos Tages._) (Plate XV. fig. 2.) Certainly a rather "dingy" butterfly, its colour being _dull grey brown_, with confused bands of darker brown; near the border _a row of whitish dots_. Sexes similar. The _caterpillar_ (fig. 11, Plate I.) feeds on Bird's-foot Trefoil, and is pale green, with four yellow lines and rows of black dots. The _chrysalis_ is shown at fig. 27, Plate I. The _butterfly_ comes out in May and August, being double-brooded, and is found on hill-sides, dry banks, old chalk pits, &c. generally throughout the country, though it is less common than the last. It is also met with frequently in Scotland. [Illustration: XV.]