COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 114 J 



the same in both sexes, no pad on front tibiae. Claws bifid or toothed ;- 

 an empodium." The members of it are generally popularly known as 

 " whites " because, in the vast majority of the species of the world, the- 

 prevailing colour is white. Nearly all species are marked with black to an 

 extent varying generally with the time of year ; in the tropics this means- 

 with the period of young shoots rich in moisture and juices or the time 

 when such is not the case. 



There are upwards of 1,000 species in the world, Colonel Bingham, enu- 

 merates 90 as occurring in British India of which number some 42 will be 

 mentioned here. The family is represented in all countries and in all 

 climates from 18,000 feet elevation to sea-level according to species and 

 genera, in the driest regions as well as in districts possessing the heaviest 

 rainfall. More particular information will be given for each genus and 

 species here treated of in its proper place. 



Home representatives of the family are the Cabbage Whites, the Clouded. 

 Yellows, the Orange-tips, the Brimstone, Bath White, &c. Some of the- 

 genera are numerous in species and the latter are often extremely numer- 

 ous in individuals in India as well as at home, some of the species of 

 Catopsilia, Appias, Terias, Colotis extremely so in India. Like the Cabbage 

 White at home Catopsilia crocale and C. pyranthe as well as Appias libythea 

 and hippo are veritable pests in certain years, defoliating every foodplant 

 in certain localities to such an extent that millions of the caterpillars die 

 of starvation. The phenomenon is perhaps not as noticeable as at home 

 for the very sufficient reason that the results of a visitation do not afi"ect 

 people in the same way because the trees that the insects feed upon are 

 not of any economic importance to human beings as food. Nonetheless, 

 however, is it a wonderful sight to see millions of larvse covering the 

 trunks of huge trees, descending from the leafless branches in search of the- 

 wherewithal to further their growth. In siich numbers they come that,. 

 literally, not an inch of bark is visible ; often they are packed three deep 

 one on top of the other. A vast number must, of course, die for the odds 

 are against any of this host finding a new tree to ascend ; and, even if 

 they did, the probabilities of their finding any leaves on it would be very 

 slight indeed. In such seasons of prolific broods of larvse the imagines or 

 perfect insects appear in such numbers that, when disturbed from their 

 resting places beneath the leaves in the jungles, they nearly darken the 

 air in yellow clouds [Catopsilia). It is easily conceivable that, were these- 

 butterflies to remain stationary in any single locality, there would be 

 but small chance for their progeny. They seem to instinctively know this 

 for they migrate in countless numbers to other districts. These migra- 

 tions have been noticed by travellers in many parts of the world. All fly 

 in one direction to start with and Colonel Bingham says that he has 

 noticed that the flight is against the wind. He remarks that one of the 

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