70 PIERID^:. 



Lar va tapering considerably at both extremities, thinly covered with fine hair ; the back and 



sides shagreened. 

 Pupa very pointed at both extremities, arched ; thoracic segments swollen. 



Gonepteryx may be known from Callidryas by the form of its antennas, and from Colias by its claws, which always 

 have paronychia. The typical species are also easily known by their falcate anterior, and angled posterior, wings. 

 Some of the species are amongst the largest of the family, in fact only the genus Hebomoia equals them in size. The 

 colour of all of them is yellow, with more or less of orange and black markings. 



The Larvae of our European species live chiefly, if not entirely, on different species of Rharnnus. They are rather 

 elongate, tapering to each extremity, slightly hairy, covered above and at the sides with very minute tubercles, green, 

 with a pale lateral stripe. They are to be found in the summer months, in England, on Rharnnus catharticus and 

 R. Frangula ; but it is possible that they feed on some other shrubs, as the perfect insects are common in situations 

 where these shrubs are rare, and scarcely to be found. 



The Pup.e are green, with some ferruginous spots at the sides ; much curved, and, as it were, humpbacked ; pointed 

 at both extremities. 



The Perfect Insects appear in about fourteen days, continue on the wing during the autumn months, pass the 

 winter in lethargy, to reappear with the first mild sunshiny day of spring, or even of the last winter month. In the 

 autumn they frequent the flowers of our gardens, hedge-rows, and open woods, but in spring scarcely visit the few 

 flowers that are open at the time of its appearance, and are almost constantly on the wing, with a rapid unsteady flight. 

 The females having deposited their eggs soon perish, but a few worn and shattered males are to be seen almost to the 

 time of the appearance of their progeny. 



The exotic species differ materially from the European, and perhaps the time will come when, their metamorphosis 

 beinf known, it will be found necessary to divide them into three or four genera. In this case, our own species might 

 retain the name of Gonepteryx ; the American species that of Rhodocera, or with more justice that of Amynthia ; and 

 a new generic name would be required for Gonepteryx Verhuellii. The last has already been indicated as a distinct 

 genus by Dr. Boisduval, under the name of Dercas. 



The species found in the New World agree in having the paronychia broad, as long as the claws, and of a more solid 

 texture than usual. Their palpi nearly resemble those of Callidryas. Gonepteryx Leachiana and Gonepteryx Lyside 

 differ from the other species in having the posterior wings rounded ; the latter differs also in having the last joint of the 

 palpi more elongate than in the other American species, and the antenna? more abruptly clavate. 



Gonepteryx Rhamni has the palpi rather elongate ; the second joint subcylindric, tapering at the apex ; the third 

 ovate. The claws are rather long ; the pulvillus appears to be wanting ; and the paronychia are slender, fringed with 

 hair, shorter than the claw. 



Gonepteryx Lycorias and Gonepteryx Verhuellii, which I yet suspect will prove to be the sexes of one species, 

 differ from Gonepteryx Rhamni in having the claws furnished with a distinct pulvillus, in their much slenderer feet 

 and antennas. The former species, or the male if there be only one species, has the posterior wings rounded, the latter 

 angular, but as in the American species, with angled wings, it is the third median nervule which terminates in this 

 angle, whilst in our European species it is the second. 



Considerable doubts yet existing as to the specific identity of Gonepteryx Rhamni and Gonepteryx Cleopatra, I 

 have thought it advisable to leave them as separate species, until naturalists who have the means of deciding become 

 more unanimous on the subject ; though I certainly lean to Dr. Boisduval's opinion of their identity. 



There is a character worthy of notice in certain species of this genus, which also is met with in some species of 

 Papilio, Pieris, and Charaxes. The costa of the anterior wings is toothed very minutely throughout nearly its whole 

 length, like a very fine saw ; a structure represented in the figures of Papilio Lenaeus and Pieris Thestylis. 



