Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/133

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115

Genus ANTHOCHARIS.


A section of Pieris has lately been established as a genus under the above name, founded, however, on characters not of a very decided description. The most important one perhaps is the shape of the chrysalis, which is boat-shaped, or equally attenuated to both extremities, somewhat arched, and without lateral points. The antennæ of the perfect insect are short, with the articulations distinctly marked, the club rather abrupt and forming an ovoid compressed mass. The common British species Mancipium Cardamines is referred to it, and this insect may be regarded as a characteristic example of the kinds which it includes. Like the Orange-tip, the majority have a patch of bright red on the tips of the anterior wings, and the under side of the posterior is often beautifully marked with green and pearl white. Several other species, besides that just mentioned, are natives of Europe, but their principal resort seems to be the intertropical countries of Africa.