t> 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
perhaps a superior, degree of dignity.” In looking at the 
butterflies of this district, our attention is necessarily con¬ 
fined to a very small group in the innumerable host of in¬ 
sect life—a group, however, of the largest for size, or at 
all events the most beautiful, and one with which all are 
more or less familiar : and, I think, if anything would 
create an interest in the insect world, it is the beauty of 
these butterflies, as we see them in our summer walks, 
hovering over flowers, or in their rapid flight passing us by 
on their way, or in the more secure and settled form I 
show them to-night. But, as Shakespeare, says— 
All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth. 
I prefer to leave it to the natural charms of these insects 
to enlist the attention of some of our members. Before 
giving the list of the butterflies of this neighbourhood, it 
would perhaps be as well that we just glanced at the very 
varied transformations through which, like most insects, 
they pass before attaining their perfect state. Butterflies 
and moths belong to the order Lepidoptera, or scale-winged 
insects,—an order, I may state, which includes over 1900 
Bi'itish species. Some people think that the difference 
between butterflies and moths is in the colouring of the 
wings;—others, again, that it is in the time of flight,—the 
butterflies by day and the moths by night;—but although 
there are several distinct points of difference, I shall only 
mention the one which is" most easily observed, viz., that 
the butterfies have knobs at the ends of their antenn* or 
feelers, hence they are frequently called Jthopaloceraj while 
those of the moths, or Heterocera , are straight, and usually 
tapering, except in some of the hawks and burnets, but 
even in these it is an easy matter to perceive the difference. 
They display remarkable instinct in depositing their eggs, 
selecting with unerring certainty the food-plant best fitted 
for the support of their offspring. The eggs vary very 
much in size and color, but it is only by the aid of the 
microscope that we are enabled to see the beautiful forms 
they assume. After emerging from the egg, we find it in 
its second or larval state. During this period of its exist¬ 
ence its whole business seems to be to eat, which it usually 
does most voraciously, frequently changing its skin, to 
allow for its rapid increase in size. After remaining in 
this form for a certain time, which varies greatly in 
different species, it passes to its third or pupa state, in 
which condition it neither eats nor moves. In the butter¬ 
flies the forms of pupae are very similar. The one I have 
here I found on a window a day or two ago, and is Pieris 
rapce, or the Small Garden White. Close beside it I also 
found some cocoons of the parasite which proves so 
deadly to this species. If you look at it closely, you 
will observe the formation of the wings quite dis¬ 
tinctly ; and a few .days before the appearance of 
the butterfly, were it a bright - coloured one, you 
would perceive the colour and markings of the enclosed 
insect. Some butterflies, when going into the pupa state, 
suspend themselves head downwards; while others, of 
which this is one, keep their heads erect. Then comes 
the last stage—the imago, or perfect insect. I think 
these wonderful changes cannot but be regarded with 
the highest interest when we think that from the worm¬ 
like creature we saw slowly crawling along, and 
devouring everything around it so greedily, after a period 
of deathlike repose, should emerge this beautiful insect, 
adorned with wings of such brilliant colours, and taking for 
its food the most delicate fluids the vegetable kingdom can 
supply. Having briefly looked at the earlier life 
of a butterfly, let us now come to the list of those 
frequenting the district of Perth. I shall only 
mention those I have myself found, and have reason 
to believe there are two or three other species I have 
not yet had the pleasure of meeting with. Out of the 67 
in the British List, I have caught 20, and have brought 
specimens of each with me. The first family we find repre¬ 
sented is the Pieridce, of which we ha ve in the genus Pieris 
three species. Both sexes of each are shown, viz., P. bras- 
sic®, Large Garden White, and P. rap*, Small do. Pound 
abundantly in gardens, &c. Larva feeding on cabbages. 
P. napi, Green-Veined White. Pound in woods and 
fields. Larva feed on rape, &c. In the genus Anthockaris, 
we have the only representative, A. Cardamines, Orange 
Tip. Both sexes and under side of male shown. Glen 
Parg is the only locality where I have taken this, and even 
there it seems very scarce. Pound in May and June. The 
next family is the Vanessidce. In the genus A rgynn is we 
have three species. A. Agiaia, Dark Green Pritillary. Both 
sexes and under side exhibited. Got during July and Aug. 
at Glen Parg, Kinnoull, and several other localities. Larva 
feeds on Dog Violet; A. Euphrosyne, Pearl-Bordered 
Pritillary, and A. Selene, Small do. Tipper and under 
sides of each shown. Both found during May and June 
at Glenfarg and other localities around here—the former 
very plentifully, the latter rather scarcely. In the genus 
Vanessa, we have also three species. V. Urtic®, Small Tor¬ 
toiseshell, or, as I find it commonly called here, “ The 
Goldy.” Common everywhere. Larva feeds on nettles. 
V. Atalanta, Red Admiral. Tipper and under side shown. 
Some years this beautiful butterfly is pretty common, but 
this year (1880) it has been very scarce so far as I have 
observed. Larva feeds on nettles. The perfect insect is 
met with during August and September, although, as is 
the case with most of the Vanessse, hybernated specimens 
are occasionally met with during the spring. V. Cardui, 
