73 



near Cape Town forms an interesting link between the ex- 

 treme pale-coloured variety just described and the ordinary 

 richly-coloured specimens. The ground-colour is of a dull, 

 pale-ochreous yellow nearly approaching the ground-colour 

 of the under-side of the fore-wing of $ ; with the basal 

 grey patch of fore-wing as strongly marked and defined as 

 in the whitish variety. The under-side, though paler and 

 duller than in ordinary ? specimens, and with the basal grey 

 colouring visible, approaches nearer to the usual tints than to 

 the peculiar colouring of the white variety. 



Meadows, gardens, hill-sides, and open ground generally. 



Throughout the year. 



The right of this insect to be considered as a distinct species from the 

 European Colias Edusa, Linn. Sp., is a very doubtful one ; though, as may 

 be seen, several authors have advocated it. After a careful comparison of 

 European and South African examples, the only differences I coula perceive 

 in the latter were a deeper orange ground-colour, and the lustre of pink over 

 the surface mentioned in the above description. The latter indeed would 

 scarcely seem to be a distinction; for, if I recollect aright, Mr. H. T. 

 Stainton, one of the first English Lepidopterists, mentioned to me that he 

 had observed this lustre on specimens from Continental Europe. Were 

 C. Edusa a Butterfly of limited range, and one not subject to variety, spe- 

 cimens from a far distant locality, even though differing but slightly,' might 

 afford some excuse for the foundation of a distinct species ; but, it being 

 recognised as an inhabitant of the whole of Europe (including England) ; 

 of Nepaul, Cachemere, and other portions of Northern India, and also of 

 Siberia, in Asia; of North Africa; and of a portion of North America; 

 I cannot perceive that a South African locality should affect the identity of 

 species in examples so closely resembling the recognised C. Edusa as those 

 in question. The fact, also, of the $ of the South African Colias being 

 subject to precisely to the same pale variation as the same sex of Edusa, 

 considerably strengthens my belief in its identity of species with the latter. 



The Larva of the C. Edusa is described by Mr. Westwood as " green, 

 with a lateral stripe varied with white and yellow, and with an orange dot 

 on each segment."* It feeds on leguminous plants, and should be searched 

 for on such in the Colony ; as the discovery of the Larva of the so-called 

 <?. Electra would probably decide the question of its claim to be considered 

 as a good species. 



Colias Electra is a widely-spread and very common species in Southern 

 Africa, and will certainly be taken by the collector as soon as he begins to 

 form a collection of Butterflies. The pale variety of the female is not rare ; 

 but, at the same time, a considerable time may elapse before it is met with. 



Cape Town. Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. Coll. mihi. 

 King William's Town. Coll. W. S. M. D'Urban.f 

 Cape of Good Hope. Butterworth, Kaffraria (J. H. Bow- 

 ker). Coll. S. A. Mus. [Brit. Mus. 



Cape of Good Hope. Interior of South Africa. Coll. 

 " Bay of Port Natal." Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg. 



* "British Butterflies, and their Transformations," p. 15. 

 f "Port Elizabeth. Graham's Town to Queen's Town. Verv abun- 

 dant." D'Urban, in litt. 



