46 THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



some reason not understood, been retarded. There is at least one 

 record of the insect remaining in the chrysalis for two winters. 



Although generally distributed throughout England, Wales, 

 and Ireland, and occurring in Scotland as far north as the Cale- 

 donian Canal, it seems to be more common in some districts 

 than in others. Abroad, its range extends over Europe, and 

 through Asia as far east as Amurland and China. 



The Wood White (Leticophasia sinapis). 



The graceful little butterfly figured on Plate 19 is creamy 

 white, with a rather square black or blackish spot on the tip of 

 the fore wings of the male. In the female the spot is reduced to 

 some blackish scales on and between the veins. Occasionally 

 there is a second brood in the year, and the specimens of this 

 flight have smaller and rounder black spots in the males, and 

 almost none at all in the females. Specimens of the female sex 

 entirely devoid of black marking are referable to var. erysimi 

 (see fourth figure in second row, Plate 16). Series of each brood 

 are shown on Plate 16, which is reproduced from a photograph 

 by Mr. Hamm. The lower specimen in each series has been 

 reversed to show the seasonal variation of the under side. The 

 row of specimens on the left are of the first brood, and the second 

 and last examples in this series show the characters of var. 

 lathyri — black tips to the fore wings, and dusky band-like 

 shades on the hind wings ; the under sides of the hind wings dull 

 greenish — to which form a good many of our spring specimens 

 belong. The specimens of the second generation are referable 

 to var. diniensis. The species is sometimes referred to Leptosia, 

 Hub. 



The egg, which is figured on Plate 18, is yellowish-white in 

 colour ; it is ribbed, and rather glassy in appearance. The 

 caterpillars have been known to hatch out about a week after 

 the eggs were laid. 



