White Butterflies of Britain, 



229 



10. The wood white butterfly (Leucophasia sinapis Steph 

 {fig, Q^.) measures 1^ in. in the 

 expansion of the wings, which are 

 milk-white, with the tip of the 

 fore wings rounded and dusky. 

 In the female the wings are more 

 rounded. It is by no means 

 so common as those which fre- 

 quent the cruciform plants; its caterpillar feeding, not on 

 Sinapis, but on the bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and 

 pea everlasting (Zathyrus pratensis). 



'^ "^ ^ 11. The black- 



veined white but- 

 terfly (Pieris era- 

 tag gi) Ifig, 64.) is 

 a beautiful indige- 

 nous insect, which 

 seems to have dis- 

 appeared from the 

 vicinity of London 

 for several years. 

 The expanded wings measure 2^ in., being consequently about 

 the same size as the P. Chariclea. The wings are of a uniform 

 white colour, distinctly veined with black. It frequents woods 

 and hedges; the caterpillars, which are black with yellow and 

 white hairs, feeding in society beneath a silken web, on the 

 hawthorn. 



1 2. The brimstone 

 butterfly (Gonepte- 

 ryx rhamni) {Jig^^S,] 

 cannot properly be 

 ranked amongst our 

 white butterflies, 

 since the ground co- 

 lour is bright prim- 

 rose yellow ; but this 

 applies only to the 

 male: the female is greenish white, with a dusky spot at the 

 base of the wings, and an orange spot in the centre. The 

 angular shape of the wings, however, will at once distinguish 

 it beyond all mistake. 



From these brief sketches, aided by the figures, which are 

 given from the accurate pencil of Sowerby, I think it will be in 

 the power of the youngest and least experienced collectors to 

 distinguish and name any of the white butterflies which they 

 may chance to capture. 

 Lee^ Kait^ June 25. 1829. 



