28 
PIERID/E. 
female. The black markings are always more developed in the 
female than in the male. The hind wings are decorated on the 
under side with green or yellow scales, variously disposed, hut 
having a tendency to follow the course of the nervures, or to form 
quadrate or triangular blotches between them. 
The Larvae are long and cylindrical, covered with down, 
slightly tapering at the extremities, marked with longitudinal 
stripes, and more or less granulated on the surface. They feed 
only on low herbaceous plants, and principally on those belonging 
to the order Ceucifeeze. 
The Chrysalides are angular, and terminated anteriorly by a 
single point. 
The genus Picris is very widely distributed, being found over 
the greater part of the globe, but chiefly in the Tropical regions of 
the Eastern Hemisphere. The most remarkable species are found 
in Africa, the Islands of the Indian Archipelago, and Australia. 
Upwards of 160 species of Pieris are named in Mr. W. F. 
Kirby’s ‘ Synonymic Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera.’ 
Though the prevailing colour of the European species is white, 
many of the Tropical species are richly and brilliantly coloured. 
There are seven European species, and four of these occur in 
Britain. 
1. P. Brassicse, Linn. (Pcqnlio B.) Faun. Suec. 269 ; Syst. 
Nat. 467 ; Esp. 3, 1 ; Hilb. 401, 3,- Man. i. 18. 
Expands 1-75 to 2-50 in. The wings are white, with the 
bases dusky. The fore wflngs are tipped with black in both sexes ; 
the female has, besides this, three black spots, two of them nearly 
circular, placed one above the other, nearly midway between the 
centre and the hind margin ; the third is triangular, with its apex 
towards the base of the wing, beneath the other two spots, and 
generally touching the lower one. Hind margin simple. The hind 
wings are rounded, with the margins simple ; white, with a black 
spot in the middle of the costal border in both sexes. On the 
under side the fore wings are white, with the tip ochre-yellow, and 
two l)lack si)ots. The hind wings ochre-yellow, dusted with black. 
Times of Appeaeance, — April till September. 
