The bliick-veined-vvliite, is one of the few butterflies that can- 

 not be mistaken for any other species, and it is remarkable for 

 having both sides very similar, which is scarcely the case in 

 any of the other British Papilionida;. In this respect, as well 

 as in die semi-transparent wings and short cilia, it approaches 

 Dorilis. The same characters will distinguish it at once from 

 Pontia, which it is further separated from by the equal length 

 of the 2nd and 3rd joints of the palpi, and the shortness of 

 the former joint compared with the basal one. The strong 

 nervure that surrounds each wing has never before been no- 

 ticed. 



The caterpillar (which as well as the pupa is copied from 

 Hubner,) lives upon the white and black thorn, the goose- 

 berry, and many fruit-trees. They live (says Godart) in so- 

 ciety under a silken web, in which they form little cases to 

 secure them from the inclemency of the winter season, during 

 which they take no nourishment. At the approach of spring, 

 they break this web, and as they find at that time but few 

 buds, they do great mischief to the trees. Linnaeus has in 

 consequence called them the pest of gardetis. Every evening 

 they return to their web, and do not quit it on rainy days. 

 This is the most favourable time to destroy them. 



Fortunately this butterfly is seldom very abundant in En- 

 gland; and from the care taken of our gardens it seems to 

 become annually more scarce. The female is very prolific; 

 and Pallas relates in his Travels that he saw this Papilio fly- 

 ing in such vast abundance in the environs of Winofka, that 

 he took it at first for flakes of snow. 



The caterpillars change to pupas about the end of May, 

 and in three weeks the butterfly makes its appearance ; but in 

 France there seem to be (as there are of many other insects) 

 two broods, one in the spring, another in the autumn. 



Mr. tiaworth used to observe P. Cratccgi at Chelsea, an- 

 nually, some years since ; and it occasionally is found in abun- 

 dance at Coombe Wood. It has been taken in Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, Kent, the New Forest and Monk's Wood near Cam- 

 bridge, and Mr. Dale has captured it at Glanville's Wootton 

 Dorset; and Enborne in Berkshire. 



