Ochsenheimer's Genera of the Lepidoptera of Europe, 849 



Species. Icon. 



1. Po. CraUegi, Linn.... Ernst,I. Pl.XLVIII.f. 101. a— f. 



2. — Brassier, Linn... Ernst, I. PL XLIX. f. 102. a—e. 



3. — Rapce, Linn Ernst, I. PL XLIX. f. 103. a— d. 



4. __ Napi, Linn Ernst, I. PL L. f. 104. a. b. 



5. — Callidice,Hubn... Hiibn. Pap. Tab. 81. f. 408.409. 



(mas.) Tab. 108. f. 551. 552. 

 (fcem.) 



6. — Raphani, Fab. ... Esper,Schm.I.Th.Tab.LXXXIV. 



Cont. XXXIV. f. 3. (mas.) 

 Tab.CXXIII. Cont.78.f.3. 

 (mas.) 4. (fcem.) 



hitherto been considered merely as varieties of long established species : — 

 for instance, the smaller variety of Po. Brassicce constitutes his species Cha- 

 riclea. Now it has been generally considered, that the chief difference 

 between the larger and smaller varieties of Po. Brassicce consists in size and 

 colour; to explain which, it is observed that the larger are the aestival, 

 and the smaller the vernal brood ; and that the paler colours and smaller 

 size of the latter are owing, the one, to the solar rays not being sufficiently 

 powerful, when the insect comes forth, to produce the intense hue so con- 

 spicuous in the supposed aestival brood of Po. Brassicce ; the other, to the 

 diminution in bulk, which the animal is presumed to sustain in consequence 

 of the longer period that it remains in the pupa state, namely, from Septem- 

 ber to April ; whereas the aestival brood remains in that state a few days 

 only. To these explanations Mr. Stephens objects, that Po. Brassicce also 

 occurs early in the month of May, so that the difference of the sun's influ- 

 ence can, in those cases, amount to little. And as to the supposed alter- 

 nating increase and diminution of size in the vernal and aestival broods, it is 

 an anomaly in Zoology, "unless Po. Rapes and Metra offer an example; 

 but these insects, I presume, are distinct, upon similar grounds to those 

 which appear to separate the insects that have promoted these observa- 

 tions." — Stephens. These grounds are, at least as to Po. Brassicce and Cha- 

 riclea y that thelatter is considerably smaller than the former; Po. Brassicce has 

 the tip of the anterior wings above, black, and the patch on its inner edge 

 indented, the points of the indentations following the direction of the ner- 

 vures, and the extreme tip being slightly irrorated with white, with the cilia 

 waved with black and yellowish ; Po. Chariclea has the tip ash-coloured, 

 without any internal indentations; the cilia with which it is fringed are pale, 

 and the under surface of the posterior wings of a deeper yellow and moro 

 thickly irrorated with dusky, than those of Pontia Brassicce. Stephens di- 

 vides his genus into two sections, — the first containing " the true Pontice; 

 the second, those insects which, if necessary to create {them) into a new 

 genus, may, after Hiibner, be termed Mancipia" 



The following are his characters of the two sections : 

 " A. With the terminal joint of the palpi longer than the second : the apex 

 of the anterior wings obtusely angled : the posterior wings not varie- 

 gated beneath : the pupa strongly angulated, with a distinct short pro- 

 cess in front, and projecting lateral appendages in front of the wing- 

 cases (Pontia)." 

 " B. With the terminal joint of the palpi shorter than the second : the an- 

 terior wings distinctly rounded at the tip : the posterior variegated be- 

 neath: the pupa angulated, with an elongated acute process or beak 

 in front : lateral appendages wanting (Mancipium)." 



7. P. Chlo- 



