The Small Skipper (Hesperia Thaumas), [Plate XIII.], Fig. 9. —Upper side a uniform tawny-orange shade, with a dark brown or black border. There is also a black dash across the fore-wing of the male, which is absent in the female. On the under side there is a tawny patch along the inner margin of the hind-wing, and the tip of the fore-wing is light. These are good identification points, as they are fairly stable.
The caterpillar is green, with two white lines on the back and a yellow line on either side. It feeds on grasses in the spring. The butterfly appears in July and is common in England, but is not known in Scotland.
The New Small Skipper (Hesperia Lineola), [Plate XIV.], Fig. 4.—Is very like the last, so much so, that it had been taken for many years by collectors and confused with Thaumas. There were few collections that did not possess a mixed series. But once its identity was established, it was soon placed in its rightful position. It may be distinguished from Thaumas by the absence of the fulvous patch on the inner margin of the under side of the hind-wings, and also by the absence of the light tip on the under side of the fore-wing. The black dash across the upper side of the fore-wing of the male is fainter, shorter, and more often altogether absent. The under side of the hind-wing is a light buff without marks of any kind.
The caterpillar is a bronze-green, with four yellow lines on the back and one on the sides; it feeds on grasses in damp meadows, mostly in the south and south-eastern counties. The species is local, but common where it occurs. Out in July and August.
The Lulworth Skipper (Hesperia Actæon), [Plate XIII.], Fig. 10. —An extremely local species, being only found in two or three localities on the south coast. It may be distinguished from the two preceding Skippers, first, by its more dingy colour; second, by the female having a semicircular row of light spots near the tip of the fore-wing. These are very faintly visible in some males, but they have, in addition, a black streak along the centre of the wing. The under side in both sexes is similar, a pale dingy fawn, with no particular markings. The antennæ are very short.
The caterpillar is green, with a dark line on the back, and a double line of yellow on each side. This species may be looked for on rough ground facing the sea during July and August.
The Large Skipper (Hesperia Sylvanus), [Plate XIII.], Fig. 11. —Upper surface tawny-orange shading into darker at the margin of both wings; on this dark margin are a few pale spots, mostly at the tip of the fore-wing. The male has an almost black streak near the centre of the fore-wing; this is not present in the female. The under side is a light tawny olive, with pale lighter spots.
The caterpillar is green, with a dark line on the back, and a light stripe on the sides. It is a grass-feeder. This Skipper is abundant all over England in May and again in August, but is rare in Scotland.
The Pearl Skipper (Hesperia Comma), [Plate XIII.], Fig. 12. —This species is not quite so large as the last. It is darker, and the spot markings are much brighter and more decided. This is the case especially on the under side, as there the spots are bright enough to suggest pearls. Hence the name.
Note, too, the dark streak in the middle of the fore-wing of the male; it is divided along the centre by a white line. This white line is wanting in the Large Skipper. The dark streak is only on the upper wings of the males. Comma is also a more local and scarce insect, being confined mostly to the South of England.