S-1141001_COMPLETO.pdf

22 SMALL WHITE.
The caterpillar feeds on the cabbage, (Brassica oleracea.J
The expanse of the wings varies from one inch and three
quarters, to nearly two inches and a half: a singularly small
one, captured some years since, by my brother Frederick Philipse
Morris, Esq., is figured in the plate. The colour of this insect
is milk-white; the fore wings have a dusky or black mark,
irregularly defined at the tip, extending along part of the mar­
gin; and there is a black spot near the middle of the wing, and
a second indistinctly visible. The hind wings have a dull dusky
black mark in a line with them, about the middle of the fore
edge. Underneath, the mark at the tip shews through, of a pale
yellowish colour, and there are two black spots near the centre;
in fact the same as those, one of which only is apparently visible
on the upper surface. The hind wings are yellowish, thickly
irrorated, principally near the base, with minute dots.
The female has two black spots near the centre of the upper
side of the fore wings, and in many instances an elongated
patch of dusky black on the lower margin. There is a dull
black mark toward the centre of the fore margin of the hind
wings, in a line with the two on the upper wings. Sometimes
the whole upper surface is of a pale buff or yellowish colour.
The eggs are placed singly.
The caterpillar is pale green, with a narrow line of yellow
along the back, and an interrupted line of yellow on the lower
part of each side. The head, feet, and tail are entirely green.
The body is slightly striated across with the segments.
This is a most variable insect, especially in the size of the
spots on the upper wings; in some, in fact, they are wholly
obliterated, and in others they are very large. I have a whole
row in my cabinet, no two of which are exactly alike.
The figures are taken from some of them—one the singularly
small one already spoken of.