12 



It is very common throughout Europe, except the Polar regions, and also 

 in North and East of Asia, and in Northern Africa. 



There is a very brief description of it in Merrett's Pinax, published in 

 1667, but there is a very lengthy one in Martin Lister's edition of Goedart, 

 published at London in 1685, giving a full account of its transformations. 



The wings, which ordinarily expand from two and a half inches to two 

 inches and three-quarters, are white, with a black crescent- shaped band at 

 the tip of the fore-wings, and a black spot on the upper edge of the hind- 

 wings. The female differs from the male in having a couple of black spots 

 on each fore-wing, and also a black streak on the inner margin ; the band 

 across the tip is moreover much wider. The under surface of the hind-wings 

 is greenish yellow. 



Var. b. is distinguished from the typical variety, by the band on the tip of 

 the wings not being jagged. It is generally rather smaller, but in other 

 respects is not different. 



Var. c. (Chariclea, Steph.) differs from the preceding, in the black band 

 at the tip of the wings being paler. This variety is generally less than the 

 typical ones. I have one which only measures one inch and three-quarters 

 across the wings. 



Var. d. is distinguished by having a black blotch at the base of all the 

 wings. It was taken at Leicester, in 1843, and figured in the " Zoologist." 



Yar. e. Is distinguished by all the wings on both sides being of a dusky 

 black colour. It is a female, and was taken near Perth, in 1868, and re- 

 corded in the " Entomologist." 



The first brood comes forth from the chrysalis in the very last few days of 

 April, or the beginning of May, and continues on the wing till June is nearly 

 over. The second emerges towards the end of July, and lasts out till the 

 middle of September. 



The egg is a most graceful and interesting object. It reminds us of some 

 antique vessel, ribbed and fluted with consummate elegance and regularity. 

 The colour is dull yellow. 



The caterpillar is bluish-green, with black dots and yellow streaks on the 

 back and sides, and is slightly hairy. It feeds on cabbage and other species 

 of critcifera in June, and also in September and October. " When about 

 to change into the chrysalis state, it commonly fixed itself to the under-side 

 of the coping of a wall, or some similar projection ; but as the ends of the 

 slender thread which serves for its girth will not adhere firmly to stone or 

 brick, it covers the space of about an inch long, and half-an-inch wide, with 

 a web of silk, to the base of which its girth can be securely fastened. This 

 butterfly disposes its eggs side by side, so as to resemble a close column of 



