THE BATH WHITE 
3i3 
Haunts and Distribution. The most likely haunts for this 
species are Clover and Lucerne fields in bloom, flowery way- 
sides and rough uncultivated land abounding in various wild 
flowers along the southern coast, where it has occurred in 
all the counties from time to time. Abroad it is abundant 
in southern Europe. Its range extends throughout the 
warmer regions of the Palaearctic area as far as northern 
China and Corea. 
Time of Appearance. The Bath White has occurred occasion¬ 
ally in this country in May and June, but by far the greater 
number have been seen and captured in August and September. 
There appears but little doubt that several of the specimens 
taken in England have been the progeny of immigrants which 
arrived on our coast in May or early June and produced a 
second brood in July and August, a theory strengthened by 
the fact that many of the specimens taken have been in 
very perfect condition, apparently freshly emerged from the 
pupae; and further, I know of an instance of a pair of these 
butterflies which was captured in coition, at rest on a grass 
stem, at Plymouth in August several years ago. These 
summer examples would deposit eggs, but the resulting larvae 
would not be able to reach maturity, as they are incapable 
of withstanding the chilly, damp autumnal weather. In its 
earlier stages P. daplidice is very susceptible to cold and 
damp, consequently this butterfly becomes exterminated in 
this country until the arrival of fresh immigrants from abroad. 
Hibernation. On the Continent it hibernates in the pupal 
state, and the butterflies emerge in April and May, and a 
succession of broods occurs until late autumn. 
Egg Laying. The Bath White lays its eggs on both the 
wild and cultivated kinds of Mignonette, such as Reseda lutea 
and R. odorata, and other plants. The eggs are laid singly 
on both the leaves and blossoms, but chiefly on the under 
surface of the former. Those laid upon the flowers of R. 
odorata exactly resemble the anthers in size and colour. 
Egg. The egg is o - 86 mm. high, of an elongated conical 
shape, with thirteen or fourteen longitudinal keels (usually 
thirteen) all running the entire length, and about thirty 
transverse ribs ; both keels and ribs are glistening white. 
The colour, when first laid, is light yellowish-green, which 
