72 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
Perhaps one of the most charming of the second sub¬ 
family is the Sulphur or Brimstone butterfly ( Gonopteryx 
BJiamni ), which receives its generic name from the 
tips of the wings being sharply and prettily angled. 
The male insect is more brightly sulphur than the female. 
A small orange spot is to be seen near the centre of each 
wing. The specific name of the Pvhamni is given to it 
because the larva feeds on the buckthorn. 
The Brimstone is very common in Shropshire. It ap¬ 
pears very early in the year, mild sunny days of March and 
even February tempting it to fly abroad. These early 
visitors are autumn-bred individuals which had hiber¬ 
nated. A drawing of the Brimstone butterfly will be 
seen on Plate III., Fig. 2. 
The common Whites, so abundant everywhere, are the 
Pier is brassica (large white), the P. rupee (small white), 
and the P. Napi (the green-veined white). The larvae 
are more or less green or yellow with black spots, and 
feed on cabbage and other crucifene. 
The large White is the most destructive to cabbages, 
and should always be destroyed, if possible. Children 
should be encouraged to catch them and crush them, 
and not blamed for killing the “ poor little pretty but¬ 
terflies.” “ Handsome is what handsome does,” and the 
converse to this is, in the same sense, equally true, 
“ Ugly is that ugly does.” Fortunately, we have in nature 
a powerful destructive agent in the little Ichneumon fly, 
th e Microgaster ylomercttus, which lays its eggs within the 
body of the cabbage-eater, where they turn into small 
larvae, which feed on the fat of their host, who, bad luck 
to him, goes on eating faster than ever. Retribution, 
however, must come in time, and when the cabbage- 
