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Show 876 MR. H. J. ELWES ON THE BUTTERFLIES [Nov. 15, same place and at the same time as A. cratagi. It may, however, be certainly distinguished from that species not only by the shape of the wings, which are longer, especially behind, but by the yellow spot at the base of the hind wing below, a character which only failed in one specimen of a long series which I examined in Dr. Staudinger's collection. APORIA CRAT^EGI, Linn. Syst. Nat. x. p. 467. Found in various parts of the Amur region and in Japan, hut not in China as far as I know at present. Agrees perfectly with European specimens. PIERIS BRASSICE, Linn., var. CRUCIVORA, Boisd. Sp. Gen. i. p. 522(1830). The form of P. brassica? found in Japan, which is not mentioned by Bremer, differs from the European form in the male having the spots on fore wing showing on the upper surface more or less distinctly, and in the colour of the hind wings below, which are paler and less covered with black specks ; the female is of a more shining white, the fore wings clouded over the greater part of their surface with blackish, and the cell and costa of fore wings beneath greenish, which character is also observable in the male. In fact the Japanese specimens seem to me more nearly allied to P. rapa? than to P. Brassica. I have males from Shanghai and Amurland which agree with Japanese males. The latter is considered by Dr. Staudinger a form of P. rapa?, which is said by Bremer to be found in the Bureija Mountains. It is, however, rare in Amurland. The form described by M. Oberthur as P. rapa?, var. orientalis, Ober. Et. Ent. v. p. 13 (1880), from Askold, Japan, and North China, is probably the same as what I have mentioned above. P. MELETE, Men. Cat. Mus. Petr. p. 113, t. x. figs. 1-2 (1855). The summer form of this is well figured by Me'netries, and is easily distinguished ; but the spring brood is much nearer to P. napi. One male sent me by Dr. Staudinger, from Amurland, is almost devoid of the heavy markings on the upperside, and, except in tint, which is less yellow, resembles the male summer form P. castoria from California. I have from Askold and from Yokohama female specimens which are intermediate between P. melete and P. napi on the upper surface, and resemble P. Bryonia beneath. According to Boisduval P. melete is found in the Himalaya; and I have specimens from the Khasia hills and Sikkim quite undistinguishable from Japanese and Askold specimens. Pieris ajaka, Moore, from the N.W. Himalaya, seems very nearly allied ; and P. davidis, Oberthur, from Moupin, must be studied in connexion with this group. |