Mr. W. Wing's Description of some Lepidopiera. 119 



XXIX. Description of some Hermaphrodite British Lepi- 

 doptera, with Figures of the Insects. By William Wing, 

 Esq. (PI. XIV. fig. 2—9.) 



[Read July 3, 1848.J 



Many instances have been recorded of insects that have exhibited 

 the characters of both sexes, as well in the colours and markings 

 on the wings and body as in the form of different parts ; and as a 

 few specimens of these among the Lepidojjtera have come to my 

 knowledge, I have thought it desirable that accurate figures and 

 descriptions of these specimens should also be published. I have 

 therefore drawn up short notices of their principal characters, 

 which I now beg to lay before the Society, presenting therewith a 

 plate of delineations of the insect. 



Colias Edusa (PI. XIV. fig. 2). In this insect the left side is that 

 of the male, and the right side, as indicated by the size and form 

 of the wings, is female, further distinguished by the marginal 

 yellow spots in the anterior wing of that side. 



This specimen was captured at Riddlesdown, near Croydon, 

 Surrey, August, 1847, and is now in the possession of S. Stevens, 

 Esq. 



Anlhocharis Cardamines (PL XIV. fig. 3). In this species the 

 characters of the two sexes are very conspicuous. The bright 

 orange spot on the left anterior wing strongly contrasts with the 

 clear colour of the right wing, which also has the black spot 

 the largest, as is always the case in the female. There is also a 

 striking difference in the relative sizes of the wings of the two 

 sides, the female being the largest. 



This specimen was taken near London, and is now in the pos- 

 session of H. Doubleday, Esq., to whom I am indebted for the 

 loan of it, and also of the following specimen. 



Smerinthus Populi (PI. XIV. fig. 4). In this instance the left 

 antenna, wings and side of the body are most distinctly masculine, 

 while those of the right are of the other sex. There is a marked 

 longitudinal line of distinction between the two sides on the dorsal 

 surface of the abdomen ; and the colours and markings on the 

 wings are darker and more distinct on the left side, and are those 



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