S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

21
SMALL WHITE.
PLATE VIII.
Pontia rapa, OCHSENHEIMER. STEPHENS.
CURTIS. DUNCAN.
Papilio rapa, LiNNjaus. HAWORTH.
" LEWIN. WILKES.
Pieris rapa, LATREILLE. BOISDUVAL. ZETTERSTEDT.
Ganoris rapa, DALMAN.
Catophaga rapa, HUBNER.
THIS common species inhabits the whole of Europe from
north to south, and is found also in various parts of Asia, and
the north of Africa.
An extraordinary migration of this Butterfly from France to
Dover was witnessed on the 5th. of July, 1846; and the
"Canterbury Journal" recorded at the time that such was the
density and extent of the cloud formed by the living mass,
that it completely obscured the sun from the people on board
the continental steamers on their passage, for many hundreds of
yards, while the insects strewed the deep in all directions.
The flight reached England about twelve o'clock at noon, and
dispersed themselves inland and along shore, darkening the air
as they went. During the sea passage of the Butterflies, the
weather was calm and sunny, with scarce a puff of wind stir­
ring, but an hour or so after they reached 'terra firma,' it
came on to blow "great guns" from the S. W., the direction
whence the insects came. The gardens suffered from the ravages
of their larvae, even at the distance of ten miles from Dover.
In this country the Small White is very abundant, and there
are two broods, one appearing towards the end of April, and
the other about the beginning of July.