52 [May 



PiERis OLERAOEA, Harris. 



This butterfly, until recently, has been extremely rare in this place. 

 Previous to 1857, T had taken it but once during the three preceding: 

 years. At present, in numbers, it ranks second to C. philodicc. It is 

 usually seen flitting about gardens, and in the streets, alighting occa- 

 sionally upon damp spots of earth. It commences its daily flight at an 

 earlier hour than any other species — often before seven o'clock — and 

 is seen abroad until quite late in the afternoon. 



There are three broods of this butterfly during the year. Of the 

 first brood, I have taken individuals as early as the 18th of April. 

 About the 10th of May they are abundant; a month later none are t<> 

 be seen. 



The second brood appears about the 1st of July, varying from this 

 period, by a week earlier or later, as the season may influence their 

 development. 



The middle of August, a third brood makes its appearance. During 

 the last week of August and the first week of September, they are very 

 numerous, more so than at any other time of the year. At any mo- 

 ment during the day one or more individuals may be seen on the wing. 

 My notes show, that for two years, this brood consisted only of those 

 which had the posterior wings simply tinged with yellow, without the 

 conspicuous black veins. Is this uniformly the case ? So far as I am 

 able to recall, both those which I have bred and captured of the first 

 brood, have had the black veined yellow posterior wings. It will be 

 interesting to determine by further observations, whether these diff^er- 

 ences in the successive broods really exist. 



About the 10th of October, the last of the brood are seen flitting 

 about, with denuded and broken wings. By this time nearly all the 

 larvae have matured, and their chrysalides may be found suspended 

 beneath boards, or under shelter of the grasses growing beside garden 

 fences in the immediate vicinity of oleraceous crops. 



From the marked variations in color, presented by this species, — the 

 inferior surface of the posterior wings in some, having but the slightest 

 tinge of yellow, and in others, being of an orange yellow, with con- 

 spicuous black bordered veins, — authors have been led to separate it 

 into distinct species, or at least into permanent varieties. Although 

 varying so much in appearance, there can be but little doul)t that they 



