PIERIDAE 
149 
CATOPSILIA 
Much has been written eoneeming this genus, and the puzzling variations of its species, and, adoptino' 
modern views, we are recognising three species only as oecurring in Australia, lliese all have a wide 
langGj and many oi tliGir ^ ai*yiiig forms liave beeii nainod as speciGs. 
Pig. AF. Wing venation 
of Catopsilia pythias. 
Photography has not been wholly successful in 
yellow colours are in every instance too dark. 'With 
be no difficulty in determination. 
25roducing* the plate illustrating this genus: the 
the aid of our descrij^tions, there should however 
Key to the Species of CATOPSILIA, 
A. Wings with reddish brown striae beneath . .. 
B. Wings without reddish brown striae beneath. 
a. Wings concolorous above. 
h. Wings not concolorous above. 
pyrantlie, 
pomona. 
scylla. 
, lepidopterists recognise more than these three species; a greater number might easily be listed, 
but with long series we are unable either to draw definite and constant parting lines, or to assign definite 
pographical limits. Not only do several of the differing forms of the one species occur at the same 
ime and in the same place, but the sexes of differing forms have on several occasions within our own 
knowledge been taken paired, which goes far to prove their identity with each other. 
In this connection we would suggest interesting breeding exi:)eriments possible to any^ careful lepid- 
opterist resident in a locality where the butterflies of this genus are abundant. A small bush of 
tassm pitula, the foodplant, should be isolated, and first very carefully searched to ensure that no eggs 
u deposited uiion it: a fuU season’s isolation would be best. A female Catopsilia 
should then be introduced, Avatched till she lay her eggs, and then killed, carefully labelled, and put aside 
tor future comparison and reference. The lax'vae from these eggs should be carefully Avatched, and every 
one of the resultant butterflies (eA’en each crippled or damaged specimen) should be killed and labelled 
or later comparison Avith the parent. We anticipate that examples of at least tAV’^o forms of the one 
species Avould be bred from the one batch of ova. Only in this way can the accuracy of the classification 
We have adopted be proved. 
213. Catopsilia pyranthe Linne. (India). 
213a. C. pyranthe pythias nov. Fig. 509. 
0 ^ Above. ForeAving chalky AAdiite tinged greeni.sh: apex and termen narroAvly black: a small sj^ot 
on discoeelhilars, black. HindAving chalky Avhite: termen lined black, 
Bexeath. Forewing Avhite: costa and apex A^ei*y broadly jxale yelloAA’-broAvn irrorated Avith red- 
brown striae: a small spot on diseocellulars, red-broAvn centred paler. FlindAving pale yelloAv-broAvn 
irrorated with red-broAvn striae: a small sj^ot on diseocellulars, red-broAvn centred paler. 
9. Above as in male: spot on diseocellulars of foreAving larger; apical and terminal margins much 
broader. 
Beneath as in male. 
hoc. Kuranda 13 6. Atherton 1. Brisbane . Manning E. 3 . Sydney 1 2 3 A Blue Alts. 3. King 
Sound. I6cf 10 9 . x.-z.. 
