PIERID^. 27 



in the females, as in F. Gidica, Mesentina, Severina, &c. ; 

 and in P. Zochalia the hind-wings only of the ? are 

 frequently bright creamy-yellow instead of white, which 

 gives the insect a very peculiar appearance. Seven of the 

 thirteen South African species of Pleris are also found in 

 tropical West Africa ; two in Madagascar ; and two in India ; 

 while five appear to be exclusively found in Southern Africa. 

 I have noticed that the forest-haunting species are much 

 swifter on the wing than those that only frequent open 

 ground ; their wings, indeed, are stouter, more cleanly cut, 

 and the apex of forewing more pointed ; there is also a 

 brilliant pearly gloss, brightest at the base of the wings, not 

 observable in the species that only haunt fields, gardens, and 

 open ground generally. 



P. Hellica, which is common around Cape Town, appears 

 to be widely distributed throughout the Colony, and, as far 

 as I have observed, is never seen in woods. This will pro- 

 bably be one of the first of the Pieridce taken by the 

 collector, as it is very numerous, and to be found during the 

 greater part of the year. 



13. Pieris Phileris. 



Pieris Phileris, Boisd., Faune Ent. de Mad., pi. 2, f. 3, 4, 5. 

 „ ,, ,, Spec. Gen. Lep. I, p. 512, n. 108. 



,, ,, ,, App. Voy. de Deleg., p. 586. 



„ ,, Chenu, Enc. d'Hist. Nat., Pap., pi. 18, f. 4. 



Expands 2 in. 3 lin. — 2 in. 5 lin. 



*' Closely allied to Agatli'ma and Poppea, but larger ; the 

 wings of a more delicate texture and rather more elongate, 

 ivhite, with a marginal series of large black spots. Fore- 

 wings with the apex black, and the base yellowish. Under- 

 side like the upperside, but instead of the black spot at 

 apex, there are three dots in a line with the others. Base of 

 fore-wing and origin of costa of hind-wing, orange-yellow. 

 Female differs from male : the dots on upper-wing being re- 

 placed by a row of elongate, elliptical spots, sometimes 

 forming almost a continuous band, divided at apex by two 

 elongate, white, pale-yellow-dusted marks ; marginal dots 

 wanting on under-side." 



The above description is taken from Dr. Boisduval's " Fauna Entomo- 

 logique de Madagascar, Bourbon and Maurice," p. 17. 



A species of Pieris in the South African Museum, taken by Mr. E. L. 

 Layard on the coast of Madagascar, I am inclined to consider as a variety 

 of the $ of Phileris. The principal difi'ercncos between it and Boisduval's 

 figure are these, viz. : the ground colour tinged with yellowish; a dusky- 

 blackish spot on sub-costal nervurc of fore-iciiig, just before middle ; the 

 marginal spots present on under-side, though much smaller ; ou underside 



