9 
It was introduced into North America about 1857, appearing first at 
Quebec. In 1864 it had not then extended more than forty miles 
from that city; but in 1866 it was taken in the northern part of New 
Hampshire and Vermont, and westward, beyond Montreal. By means 
of the railroads it was soon carried to Boston, New York, and south¬ 
ward to Philadelphia and Washington. In 1869 it was reported as 
common in New Jersey, though Dr. Fitch states that it was first 
seen in eastern New York in 1870. By 1871 it had travelled as far 
eastward as Halifax, Nova Scotia, and westward to central New York. 
It must have reached Illinois about 1876, making its first appearance 
in the vicinity of Chicago, although attracting no attention until 
1877, so far as I can ascertain, when it was found at Maplewood, 
west of Chicago, in September, having reached this point in its west¬ 
ward march. In 1878 it made its appearance in injurious numbers as 
far south in the state as Springfield, and a few specimens were taken 
at Carbondale. Its general spread over the state during the past sea¬ 
son has already been referred to. What point it has reached in its;, 
westward march I have not learned, but it is more than probable' 
that by this time it has passed across Iowa. 
It was ..probably introduced into this country in some vessel which 
discharged its cargo at Quebec. Prof. Riley, in his second report on 
the noxious insects of Missouri, says it was probably introduced in the 
egg state, on a batch of refuse cabbage leaves which were thrown 
from some vessel, where, after hatching, the young larvae managed to 
find suitable food close by. Dr. Fitch, in commenting upon this sug¬ 
gestion, remarks that: “The insect does not remain in its egg state 
the length of time required for such a voyage. The eggs, however, 
hatching on shipboard, the worms from them would readily sustain 
themselves on the leaves, and on reaching port where fresh vegetables 
could be obtained, the few wilted and decaying cabbages remaining 
would be thrown away, with some of these worms lurking among the 
leaves, whereby their race was probably started on our continent.” 
As this species has been known in Europe from time immemorial, 
it is a matter of surprise that it was not introduced at an earlier day. 
But this is to be accounted for by the fact that it was necessary a 
combination of a number of favorable circumstances should take place 
before it would be transferred from one continent to another. 
Dr. Fitch mentions a somewhat singular fact observed at its intro¬ 
duction into the section of New York in which he resides. “ During 
the fore part of the year 1870, our white butterfly f Pieris oleracea ] 
made its appearance in the usual manner. One or more of them 
might be seen almost every day flying about our gardens and yards. 
On the second day of August four white butterflies were hovering 
about and alighting around me in my garden, when one of them was 
noticed with much surprise as having a round black spot near the 
middle of its fore wings. Conjecturing it to be the spotted variety 
of our white butterfly, and anxious to secure the specimen, I hastened 
to obtain a net for its capture; but on being approached, to my great 
regret it flew wildly away. Next day however, two similar specimens 
were noticed and captured, and on examination were discovered to be 
the European Pieris rupee. And on the following days these spotted 
butterflies occurred more and more common, whilst our white butterfly 
immediately vanished , not one of them being seen either in the gardens or 
the meadows .” A somewhat similar result has attended their appear¬ 
ance in my immediate neighborhood. 
