THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 37 



ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 



//. CABBAGE BUTTERFLIES. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



In pursuance of our plan of laying before our readers, from time to 

 time, illustrated descriptions of the common insects of this country, we 

 propose to begin in this number of our journal some account of the 

 Butterflies belonging to the genus Pieris — familiarly known in their larval 

 state as " Cabbage-Worms." As stated by our coadjutor, Mr. Saunders, 

 in the first paper of this series (C. E., v., page 4), we do not profess to 

 bring out any new facts or information of interest and value to the 

 experienced Entomologist, but we wish to afford to our less scientific 

 readers plain descriptions, with illustrations, of our more common insects, 

 in order that any one beginning to collect and observe may be able to 

 identify and learn something about what he meets with. Such being our 

 object, we shall not hesitate to make use of all available information, 

 whether derived from our own or extraneous sources, and shall not pretend 

 to be especially original in our descriptions or remarks. 



The genus Pieris is represented in Canada by but three species 

 ( O/eraeea, Rapce. and Protodiee), all of them white butterflies of moderate 

 size, with more or less conspicuous black markings. The first-mentioned 

 species, the Pot-herb Butterfly (P. Oleracea, Harris), is our native repre- 

 sentative of the genus, being found all over the northern portion of this 

 continent, from Nova Scotia and Maine in the East to the District of 

 Algoma and even Manitoba in the North-West. It has been occasionally 

 observed south of Lake Ontario, but very rarely as low down as Pennsyl- 

 vania ; at Ottawa, Collingwood, and other northern localities in Ontario, 

 it is generally quite abundant every year, but it is seldom observed in any 

 great numbers at Toronto or other places in the same latitude. When 

 prevalent, it is usually to be seen on the wing from May to September, 

 there being at least two broods in the year. 



The Oleracea Butterfly (Fig. 7), may be at once distinguished from all 

 other Canadian species by its almost pure white wings, destitute of spots 

 or other markings on the upper surface ; towards the tip and also next the 



