294 TH E WONDERS OF INSTINCT 



very leaves where I find them. Hence I arrive at this 

 conclusion: the White Butterfly, who is fitful in her 

 flight, chooses cabbage first, to dab her eggs upon, and 

 different Cruci ferae next, varying greatly in appearance. 



How does the Pieris manage to know her way about 

 her botanical domain? We have seen the Larini, l those 

 explorers of fleshy receptacles with an artichoke flavor, 

 astonish us with their knowledge of the flora of the 

 thistle tribe ; but their lore might, at a pinch, be explained 

 by the method followed at the moment of housing the 

 e gg- With their rostrum, they prepare niches and dig 

 out basins in the receptacle exploited and consequently 

 they taste the thing a little before entrusting their eggs 

 to it. On the other hand, the Butterfly, a nectar-drinker, 

 makes not the least enquiry into the savory qualities of 

 the leafage ; at most dipping her proboscis into the flowers, 

 she abstracts a mouthful of syrup. This means of inves- 

 tigation, moreover, would be of no use to her, for the 

 plant selected for the establishing of her family is, for the 

 most part, not yet in flower. The mother flits for a 

 moment around the plant; and that swift examination 

 is enough : the emission of eggs takes place if the prov- 

 ender be found suitable. 



The botanist, to recognize a crucifer, requires the indi- 

 cation provided by the flower. Here the Pieris surpasses 

 us. She does not consult the seed-vessel, to see if it be 

 long or short, not yet the petals, four in number and 

 arranged in a cross, because the plant, as a rule, is not 



1 A species of Weevils found on thistle-heads. — Translator's Note. 



