242 Pontia Charicléa and Metra, 
bles in such situations is unquestionable, and from the above 
instances appears not to be of very unusual occurrence. There 
can be as little doubt that these pebbles have entered the 
stomach of the fish through the mouth. But the question is, 
how comes the pike to swallow such indigestible matter? It 
has been suggested to me in answer, that the fish, in seizing 
its prey, might along with it have accidentally picked up fie 
stone from the bottom, and swallowed both together. But is 
not the pike too good a marksman to take up so large a sub- 
stance accidentall ly with his food? and may not some more 
probable way of accounting for the fact be devised? The 
voracity of the pike — the river shark, or tiger of the fresh- 
water, as he may be called —is almost proverbial. It is well 
known that this fish, when in the humour for taking its prey, 
will strike almost without discrimination at whatever object it 
sees moving in the water. It is not improbable, therefore, 
that the stones in question having been thrown into the water 
by some person passing by, may shave been seized by the pike 
while in the act of sinking to the bottom, and at once gorged 
for more digestible food. Perhaps, however, you may be 
able to suggest some better solution of the problem. 
I am, Sir, &c. 
Allesley Rectory, Jan. 5. 1830. W. TT. Bree. 
Art. VIII. On the Pontia Charicléa and Metra, the large and 
small Cabbage Butterflies. By the Rev. W. T. Brer. 
Sir, 
Ir has long since been remarked by collectors of insects, 
ra most of the first specimens of Pontia brassicse CVololl; 
p-.226. fig. 55.) and rapz (Vol. II. p.227. fig. 57.), (large 
a small cabbage or garden white butterflies), that make 
their appearance in the early spring, are much smaller in 
size, and have the black marks on their wings much fainter 
than in the specimens produced later in the season. In the 
case of P. rapa, more especially, the wings on the upper 
side sometimes present a perfectly immaculate surface. ‘This 
variety of P. rapze has, we are told, long been known among 
collectors by the appellation of * Mr. Howard’s White,” and 
in Mr. Haworth’s superb collection of Lepidéptera is ticketed 
** P. rapee var. preecox.” That eminent entomologist, Mr. 
Stephens, was, however, I believe, the first to raise these 
varieties to the rank of species under the respective names 
of P. Charicléa and P. Métra; and the principal points of 
difference by which they are to be distinguished from their too 
fo) 
nearly allied congeners may be found detailed at large in his 
