460 



Large White Butterfly. 



and voracious that a few of them quickly clear off the leaves, 

 while the hearts and other parts of the infested vegetables 

 are spoiled by their excrement, and by the decomposing bodies 

 of caterpillars which have been killed by the parasites which 

 frequently infest them. 



In some seasons, particularly in times of drought and heat, 

 these caterpillars are very numerous and destructive, but 

 their ravages are speedily checked by wet weather. In the hot 

 dry summer of 1898 they were observed in great abundance 

 near Hastings, Lewes, Eastbourne, and Brighton, and all 

 along- the south-eastern coast, as well as in other places by the 

 sea. The injuries caused were very noticeable in fields and 

 gardens in these localities throughout the latter part of the sum- 

 mer, and during the very dry weather in September and the 

 early part of October they fed unchecked. But the heavy rains 

 which fell on the 19th and 21st of October killed the greater 

 number of these caterpillars, though some were found as late 

 as November, together with, the much smaller green cater- 

 pillars of the small white butterfly [Pier is rapce). 



In addition to the considerable numbers of the large 

 white butterfly which are bred in this country, there is in 

 some seasons a large immigration from the Continent. Im- 

 migrations also occur in Continental countries, notably in 

 Belgium, Germany, and Holland, swarms of these butterflies 

 being carried from their breeding places by breezes from the 

 opposite shores. 



No special immigration of this insect was, however, noticed 

 in 1898. The unusual attack was due to the abnormaJly dry 

 season, which favoured its increase, so that in some cases 

 there were three generations during the summer and autumn. 

 In several places large white butterflies were seen at the end 

 of October. 



Life History. 



This butterfly is found throughout the United Kingdom 

 (except in the Shetland Isles) and in most of the temperate 

 regions of the world. It is rather more than an inch in 

 length, with a wing expanse of nearly 2| inches, the female 

 being slightly larger than the male. The wings are wide 



