382 ARTICULATES I INSECTS. 



growth as larvae, caterpillars usually change their skins 

 four times. At length they cease eating, and most of 

 them spin a silky covering for themselves, called a co- 

 coon ; some suspend themselves in various ways without 

 making a cocoon ; and others enter the ground. In 

 all these situations the larva soon bursts open the skin 

 upon the back, sloughs it, and thus passes into the 

 pupa or chrysalis state, when, at first sight, it appears 

 destitute of head and locomotive appendages ; but closer 

 examination reveals traces of head, tongue, antennae, 

 wings, and legs. In due time the pupa-skin is rent 

 on the back, and the winged insect emerges, soft and 

 weak, and the wings shrivelled ; but soon the superflu- 

 ous moisture of the body evaporates, the wings expand 

 to their full dimensions, the limbs acquire firmness, and 

 the perfect insect goes forth to feed upon water and the 

 sweet fluids of flowers, which constitute its only food. But- 

 terflies are at once distinguished from all the rest of the 

 sub-order by their knobbed antennas, erect wings when 

 at rest, and diurnal habits. Their caterpillars do not 

 spin cocoons, but the pupae are bare. Moths have the 

 antennae variously formed, and are mainly nocturnal in 

 their habits. The caterpillars of many of them spin 

 cocoons. 



The following families are arranged according to La- 

 treille, with some modifications. 



PAPILIONID^E, Latr., OR PAPILIO FAMILY. This Fam- 

 ily embraces lepidoptera which are the largest of our 

 butterflies, and which generally have their hind wings 

 extended into a tail-like appendage. 



The Genus Papilio contains the Papilios proper. The 

 Asterias Butterfly, P. astcrias, Drury, expands three and 

 a half to four inches, and is black, with a double row of 

 yellow dots upon the back, a broad band of yellow spots 

 across the wings, a row of yellow spots near the hind 



