LEPIDOPTERA OF THE ISLAND OF CAI'RI. 255 



character of the hind, which attains at Monte Solaro — the highest 

 point — an altitude of 608 metres above the level of the sea, and 

 also to the fact that, while many parts of the island are under 

 close cultivation, other portions are wilderness and rugged rock, 

 with precipitous cliffs sheer down to the sea, where the larv?e 

 remain undisturbed, so many conditions favourable to the develop- 

 ment of Lepidoptera are met with. The food-plant is extremely 

 varied, and anything approaching a severe frost is a thing 

 unknown. 



A list must necessarily be imperfect, especially when there 

 are no previous data to go upon ; I can find no trace of any sys- 

 tematic study of the Lepidoptera of the island. 



The Costas, father and son, have left an enormous amount of 

 information regarding the Neapolitan district, of which Capri 

 forms a part ; but their works, being mostly contributions to 

 journals, are difficult to find, and the result of their researches 

 laborious to classify. 



Many Lepidoptera are rarely found, some owing to scarcity, 

 others to reclusive habits, and many only appear in certain 

 years; and it is not uncommon to come across a specimen which 

 can only be treated as a kind of pilgrim, such as are usually 

 classed amongst the doubtful species of a locality. I have only 

 observed one or two fully developed specimens of such common 

 insects as Brotolomia meticidosa, Linn., and Plialera hiicephala, 

 Linn., though plenty of pupjie have been brought to me. So 

 there must be many gaps in my list, and plenty of opportunity 

 for further research. I have used the names and numbers as 

 given in Staudinger and Rebel's Catalogue, 1901 edition : — 



Papilionid.e. 

 4. Papilio machaon, L. Common on the edge of the cliffs by the sea. 



Pie RID iE. 



45. Pieris brassicm, L. Very common. 



48. P. rapa, L. This year (1903) has been a small plague, appearing 

 in numbers, end of July, though previous year only orduiarily common. 



57. P. daplidice, L. Fairly common on the mountaius, appearing 

 end of summer. 



62a. Euchloe belia, Cram. var. romana. Calberia, common. 



113. Colias ediim, Fab. Very common all through the year, except 

 winter. 



ll'db. C. edusa, Fab., female ab. helice, Hlib. Two specimens in 

 July, 1903 ; none noticed last year. 



125. Gonepteryx cleupatra. L. A few specimens, females scarce. 



Nymphalice. 



152. Pyrameis atalanta, L. Fairly common ; observed a specimen 

 in March. 



154. P. cardui, L. Very common, was one of the first butterflies, 

 appearing in thousands in May, but all worn specimens ; had they 

 hybernated ? 



