35 



yellowish spots, often indistinct ; an ill-defined blackish spot 

 Leyond middle, between third median nervule and inner- 

 margin. Hind- wing ; a black elongate mark at extremity of 

 discoidal cell ; hind-marginal spots united by broad arched 

 streaks, so as to form a series of festoon-like markings ; be- 

 fore them a more or less connected row of arched streaks (as in 

 underside of $ ), touching them. UNDERSIDE. Very simi- 

 lar to $ , but the markings proportionally broader. Fore- 

 wing : yellow tint paler than on upperside ; base only light- 

 greyish ; yellow at apex rather deeper than in $ . Hind- 

 wing : deeper in tint than in $ ; blackish markings wider.* 



Woods ; sometimes in gardens near woods. 



January (e) February (e), and again in May. 



" March (m)." (Miss Wentworth.) " November to May." D' Urban. 



This is the most rapid-flying Pieris I know ; indeed, the peculiar shape 

 of the acute fore-wing seems to indicate increased powers of flight. Its 

 rapid, irregular course, over and among the trees and underwood, renders 

 it a difficult insect to capture on the wing ; but its fondness for the honey 

 of Plumbago and other flowers, will soon cause it to fall a prey to the 

 watchful collector. It is a constant visitor to the lovely blossoms of the 

 *' Wild Chestnut " (Calodendron Capense}, which are so powerful an attrac- 

 tion to insects of all sorts. 



It is worthy of remark that, common as this Butterfly was at Plettenberg 

 Bay, I only saw one female specimen ; but, as I have since received several 

 from Knysna, taken within a few days of each other, I imagine that the 

 dearth of this sex was a peculiarity of the seasons of 1858 59. 



Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. Coll. mihi. 



Port Natal. Coll. Brit. Mus., and S. A. Mus. 



Port Elizabeth (August, 1861). Graham's Town. Queen's 

 Town. Keiskamma Mouth. King William's Town. Coll. 

 W. S, M. D 'Urban. 



2L Pieris Mesentina. 



Papilio Mesentina, Cram., Pap. Exot., pi, 270, f. A, B. 

 Papilio Aurota, Fab., Ent. Syst., Ill, 1, p. 197, n. 614. 

 Papilio Mesentina, Herbst., Ins. Schmett.,~V ", pi. 91, f.5,6. 

 Pieris Mesentina, Godt., Enc. Meth., IX, p. 130, n. 34. 



Boisd., Faune Ent. de Mad., p. 19, n. 5. 



Sp. Gen. Lep., I, p. 501, n. 95. 



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



Chenu, Enc. d'Hist. Nat. Pap., pi. 19, 



[f. 5. 



Horsf., Cat. Lep. 2ns. Mus. H.E.I.C.S., 



[I, p, 72. 

 Expands 2 in. 2 in. 5 lin. 



* The $ of Gidica is variable in tint, some specimens being almost 

 white in ground-colour, or but slightly tinged with yellow. 



