BUTTERFLIES OF MESOPOTAMIA. 349 
plant. On this plant the eggs were laid singly upon the sepals of 
a young unopened flower-bud, or upon the thin succulent stem of a 
flower-bud. 
2. Sinapis arvensis, L., a race (charlock). 
About six inches high, when growing on ridges of gypsum rock, with 
bright yellow flowers, short stem and very hairy leaves; an egg 
being laid on the tip of an unopened flower-bud, another on a 
hair on a sepal of a young flower-bud. 
On April 9th (1920) several orange coloured, eggs, probably of ausonia, were 
found on several plants of the first mentioned species, placed singly, 
most being on the sepals of unopened flower-buds, but two on the stem of 
flower-heads. 
On April 11th some of the eggs darkened, and on the 12th the empty uneaten 
shells of three were found still on the buds, the minute golden yellow hairy 
larvee being near them on flower-buds. On 15th April these larve were still 
yellow and markedly hairy with a dark particle at the tip of each hair. 
Just after hatching the larve fed on the flower-bud. On 19th April one 
larva on the food plant cast its skin, and after this measured five-eighths of an 
inch long. Head large, pale green minutely dotted with black, alllegs green. A 
white lateral line with spiracles in it, and with bluish mauve upper edge ; 
above this yellowish green and dorsally mauve. 
22nd April, the fivelarve on the plant are alike; length 12 inches, 
deep green with a conspicuous white lateral or spiracular line with rather nar- 
rower purple upper margin, above this deep green, then dorsally purple ; legs 
green ; head purple, rather paler in front. Four of these larve pupated, three 
head upwards and one head downwards. They all became pale brown with 
dark brown long beak like process, a lateral white streak on each side and 
dark dorsal streaks, They all became stiff and hard and failed to reach the 
imago stage. Possibly small black ants, which destroyed other larvee and 
were @ great nuisance there, may have bitten these larve shortly before they 
pupated. 
Both these larve and pupe resembled those of EF. belemia reared the previous 
year. The only apparent difference from those of belemia being a rather broader 
and more conspicuous white lateral line. 
It is curious that although females were seen ovipositing and these larve and 
pupe were reared from the eggs, no examples of ausonia were seen about to 
correspond with this brood. No opportunity occurred of ascertaining whether 
any were about on the Jebel Hamrin of this, which should have been the dry 
season brood, the first brood having been taken in company with the Wet 
season brood of £. belemia, of which also as previously noted the dry season 
brood was noticeably absent at Baiji (in 1920). 
E. ausonia was in March 1920 more common thanZ£. belemia on the Jebel Ham- 
rin at Fathah gorge. On the other hand at Kizil Robat the previous year when 
both broods of E. belemia were very common no ausonia were seen at all. ausonia 
is very active, though its flight seems more fluttering and less direct than that 
of belemia. ausonia averaged slightly larger than the same brood of belemia. 
The two forms are found together and may easily be mistaken the one for the 
other, and both vary much with the seasons ; but the distinct bands of green 
and white beneath distinguish belemia. ausonia, like belemia was attracted 
by the smell of sulphuretted hydrogen from some oil-drums. 
Localities.—Mesopotamia—fairly common on the Jebel Hamrin and on the 
right bank of the Tigris at Fathah. 
E. belemia, Esp. Seitz. Vol. 1.22a. 
Key: Colour white and black above; alternating green and white bands 
across hindwing beneath. 
