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X. The charina Group of Pinacopteryx. By F. A. Dixey, 

 M.A., M.D., F.R.S., Subwarden of Wadham College, 

 Oxford. 



[Road May 1st, 1918.] 



The assemblage of Pierine species including cebron and 

 capricornus, Ward, pigea and charina, Boisd., with others 

 nearly related to them, forms a natural group which may 

 either be considered as a separate genus under the name 

 of Pinacopteryx. or as a section of Pieris in the wide sense ; 

 the latter course being taken by Trimen in '" South African 

 Butterflies.*" vol. iii. p. 39; and by Aurivillius in Seitz's 

 " Macrolepidoptera : Ethiopian Region," Eng. trans., p. 45. 



In Proc. Ent. Soc. Loud., 1912, pp. ex cxiv, it was 

 remarked that the group headed by P. charina was distinct 

 in several particulars from the remainder of the section or 

 genus, and in the same " Proceedings " lor L909, pp. cix, ex, 

 some account was given of the peculiarities of the scent 

 scales which characterise this charina group; an outline 

 figure being added of the curious plume-scale of P. liliana, 

 Or. Smith (Ibid., PI. E. fig. 10). I now propose to deal 

 in somewhat greater detail with the members of this sec- 

 tion, as regards which there has been a certain amount of 

 confusion. 



The charina group, ;is has been pointed out by Auri- 

 villius,* is distinguished from the remaining species of 

 Pinacopteryx, which may be called for convenience the 

 pigea group, by the possession on the lower discocellular 

 vein of both wings, or at least of one wing, of a black 

 spot or dot beneath, often occurring on the upper surface 

 also. This, though in practice a useful distinction, does 

 not invariably hold good; for in one or two forms of the 

 pigea section a dot may be present in the assigned situa- 

 tion, and in one form at least of the charina section both 

 surfaces of both wings may be devoid of any such marking. 



A more constant distinction, so far ;is the males are 

 concerned, is afforded by the genitalia.! In all the species 



* Op. cit., p. 46. 



f This, 1 believe, was first observed by my friend Dr. H. 

 Eltringham. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1918. — PARTS I, II. (DEC.) 



