326 



KIDD'S OWN JOUENAL. 



caterpillars differed widely from Pie/ is BrassiccB. 

 The chrysalis also, and the perfect insect. 

 Every one was chariclea; and the time of appear- 

 ance was different. Thus the egg, caterpillar, 

 chrysalis, time of appearance, and perfect insect, 

 being altogether different, — it follows, ex neces- 

 sitate, that the two species must be distinct, and 

 Pieris Chariclea is no more a variety of Pieris 

 Brassicce than Pieris Brassicce is of Pieris 

 Chariclea. 



I am not going to describe the difference 

 between the two perfect insects. That is already 

 very fairly done by J. 0. West wood, Esq., in 

 his work entitled " British Butterflies," pub- 

 lished in 1841, m which he quotes from " Albin." 

 Not possessing, or ever having had the good 

 fortune to meet with Albin's work on Entomology, 

 I can form no opinion as to the accuracy of hi3 

 coloring of the caterpillar. It is clear, however, 

 that Albin himself was aware of the difference 

 between Brassicce and Chariclea. 



I readily admit that, to an unpractised Ento- 

 mologist, so great is the general resemblance of 

 the two caterpillars, that they are probably often 

 passed over, or mistaken one for the other. I am 

 almost certain I have on former occasions repeat- 

 edly so erred myself; and I dare say others have 

 done the same. Without attempting to occupy 

 too much space, I annex the precise points in 

 which these two caterpillars differ ; neither more 

 nor less. In all other respects then, please to 

 observe the two caterpillars present the same 

 appearance. 



POINTS OF DIFFERENCE. 



Ground Color — This in the caterpillar of 

 the Brassicce is pale, greyish sea-green, or pale 

 greyish yellow. In the Chariclea it is invariably 

 of a pale greenish yellow. 



Abdomen. — This in the Brassicce is a dull 

 yellowish green, with a rather darker ventral 

 line. The abdomen of the Chariclea is of a dull 

 lemon color, with a rather lighter ventral line. 



Head. — The head of the Brassicce is of a light 

 blueish grey, or green; finely speckled with 

 black. It has also a small triangular patch of 

 very light flesh color in centre, broadly bordered 

 by black, and a small round spot on either side. 

 In the Chariclea, the head is invariably of a 

 light blueish green, finely speckled with black, 

 and with a small triangular patch of bright 

 yellow, broadly bordered by black. 



Mandibles — Those of the Brassicce are pale 

 blueish grey, tipped with black. Those of the 

 Chariclea are pale blueish grey. 



Thoracic Legs.-— These in the Brassicce are 

 yellowish, faintly spotted with light brown. In 

 the Chariclea, they are yellowish; bordered and 

 tipped with dark brown. 



Growth . — The Brarsicce grow to about two 

 inches long. The Chariclea never exceed one 

 inch and a half. 



Eggs. — The eggs of the Brassicce are gene- 

 rally in clusters of from fifty to sixty, and of a 

 pale lemon color. The eggs of the Chariclea 

 are generally in clusters of twenty to thirty ; of a 

 deep lemon color, and altogether smaller than 

 those of P. Brassicce. 



Chrysalis. — The chrysalis of the Charicleais 



much smaller than that of P. Brassicce, also of a 

 much paler green, and not so much spotted. 



Eood. — Similar in both. 



Earliest Time of Appearance. — The Bras- 

 sicce appears about April 24, and is seldom taken 

 sooner. The Chariclea, from March 30 to April 24, 

 and is seldom taken after that period. 



I cannot help thinking that Pieris Chariclea 

 is a much less common insect than Pieris Bras- 

 sicce ; and I also believe that many Entomologists 

 have placed in their collections an accidental 

 variety of Pieris Brassicce for Chariclea. I know 

 I have myself done so, formerly. Now, however, 

 I have not the slightest hesitation in pronouncing 

 Pieris Chariclea to be a perfectly distinct species 

 from Pieris Brassicce. I have a firm hope that 

 this will interest some of your readers, and lead 

 them to follow up this and other similar cases, 

 and I shall look for the result of their observa- 

 tions in the Public's " own Journal." — 

 Bombyx Atlas. 



[In consideration of the high position occu- 

 pied by " Bombyx Atlas " amongst Entomolo- 

 gists, we have readily inserted this valuable 

 Communication ; but conciseness on all such 

 matters is, for the future, indispensable, — our 

 columns having to do heavy duty for general as 

 well as particular readers. — Ed. K. J. ] 



THE BHITISH WARBLEKS. 



THE NIGHTINGALE. 



At no more fitting season than the 

 present, could we introduce the Nightin- 

 gale {Sylvia luscinia). This is a very 

 interesting species, and deservedly esteemed 

 for its song, which excels that of any other 

 bird from its great variety of notes. It also 

 sings the greater part of the night as well as 

 by day. In its wild state, it frequents 

 woods, copses, and gardens, where it is often 

 heard, but seldom seen. It generally visits 

 us about London, the beginning of April. 

 In Somersetshire, it seldom arrives till the 

 middle or latter end of that month, some- 

 times not till the beginning of May. Some 

 counties it does not visit at all. Its food 

 consists entirely of insects of various sorts ; 

 but it prefers the eggs of ants to any other. 

 It is also very fond of the young larvae 

 of wasps and hornets : so also I believe are 

 all the species of this genus, but these they 

 can only get when they are procured for 

 them. In confinement they will soon take 

 to feed on the bruised hempseed and 

 bread mixed together, if a few insects be 

 stuck on it. They are also very fond of 

 fresh raw meat, but prefer the lean part. 

 The yolk of an egg boiled hard and cut up 

 in small pieces, may also be given them 

 in winter, for a change, if insects cannot be 

 procured. Also a little boiled milk and 

 bread ; but the more insects they have given 

 them, the better will be their health, and 

 the more they will sing. The larvse of the 

 cockchafer, or may bug, which is sometimes 



