The male is distinguished by the absence of the black spot nearest to the lower margin of the front wing, and of the black marginal spots and grey clouding of the hind wings. The markings of the under surface, however, show through their substance rather plainly.
In both sexes, the ground colour of the wings is milk-white. But the chief decoration is reserved for the under surface, which is chequered, in a manner not easily described, with a soft but rich green tint upon white, relieved here and there by a few black touches.
We are informed by Lewin, that it was named the Bath White from a piece of needlework executed at Bath, by a young lady, from a specimen of this insect, said to have been taken near that city. But the south-eastern corner of England, and more especially on the coast, seems to be the head-quarters of this valued fly,--lending probability to the supposition entertained { 90} by many, that a large proportion of those taken here have migrated or been blown across the Channel; though I believe it sometimes breeds here, and that the caterpillars have, on one or two occasions, been found in this country.
The butterfly has been taken several times at Dover, Margate, and other places on the Kentish coast; at Lewes; Whittlesea Mere, Cambridge; Worcester, and near Bristol.
The _caterpillar_, which is to be found in June and September, is bluish with black spots, a pale yellow line on each side, and two of the same colour on the back. M. Le Plastrier reared a number of them, feeding them on the leaves of the Wild Mignonette (_Reseda lutea_). It also feeds on Weld (_Reseda Luteola_).
The _chrysalis_ very much resembles that of the Small Garden White, and is totally unlike that of the next, the Orange-Tip, with which it has been by some entomologist united into another genus (_Manicipium_).
_Daplidice_ is a slow insect--slower than the Common Whites--and it is an easy matter to catch it, when recognized, which the peculiarly heavy flight might aid one in doing.
May and August are the months in which to look after this gem of the _Pontia_ genus.
THE ORANGE-TIP BUTTERFLY. (_Euchloë Cardamines._)
Few vernal ramblers in the country, whether entomological or no, can fail to have noticed, and been charmed by, this merry blossom-like insect, as it gaily flits along by hedge-row and wood-side, pausing anon to taste its own sweet flowers of May, and looking, even when on the wing, so unlike any other of our native butterflies. Truly it is an exquisite and loveable little creature, this Orange-Tip--sometimes styled the Wood Lady; but this latter title is somewhat awkward in its application, inasmuch as the "_lady_" insect is entirely without the characteristic _orange_ adornment, and would hardly be suspected as being the same species with her handsome lord.