242 Pontia Charicleo. 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 the 

 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 accidentally 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 have 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 Uectory^ Jan, 5. 1830. W. T. Bree. 



Art. VIII. On Pontic Charicle^i and Meira, the large and small 

 Cabbage Butterflies. By the Rev. W. T. Bree, M.A. 



Sir, 

 It has long since been remarked by collectors of insects, 

 that most of the first specimens of Pontic brassicae (Vol. II. 

 p. 226. fig. 55.) and rapse (Vol.11, p. 227. fig. 57.) (large 

 and 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. rapae, more especially, the wings on the upper 

 side sometimes present a perfectly immaculate surface. This 

 variety of P. rapae 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 Lepidoptera is ticketed 

 " P. rapae var. prae'cox." 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. Chariclea and P. Metr«! ; and the principal points of 

 difference by which they are to be distinguished from their too 

 nearly allied congeners may be found detailed at large in his 



