Insect Study. 



779 



The Tiger Sivallo-n'tail. — This magnificent creature flies about leis- 

 urely and is fond of strong odors whether they be fragrant or otherwise. 

 It is especially fond of tobacco smoke and will often be seen following 

 in the wake of a smoker. The caterpillar has large eye-spots on the 

 thorax, and it has a pretty habit of making a silken, spring mattress to 

 rest upon when it is not eating ; it makes this by weaving the web of silk 

 across the leaf, pulling the edges of the leaf slightly together. Food 

 plants, ash, birch, and poplar. * 



The Black SwaUoivtaU. — This graceful in- 

 sect is often found about our houses visiting the 

 flower gardens. It is one of the most important 

 pollen carriers among the butterflies. The male 

 is smaller than the female, and has two complete 

 rows of yellow spots on both wings. The cater- 

 pillar is mostly black and spiny when young but 

 later it is adorned with green and black cross- 

 wise stripes, the black stripes enclosing six yel- 

 low spots. Food plants, caraway, parsley, celery, 

 and wMld carrot. 



THE PIERIDS 



THE WHITES 



Caterpillar of the 

 Tiger swallow-tail 

 resting on its silken 

 mattress. 



The Cabbage Butterfly. — This is the white 

 butterfly common near every garden in which 

 grows cabbage or its near relatives. We had 



native species of cabbage butterflies which did comparatively little damage 

 to gardens, although they were found quite commonly prior to 1870; but 

 this emigrant Picris rapce came to us from Europe, getting its foothold 

 in New York State in 1868. Now it has driven out all of our native 

 species ; they have literally taken to the woods and are found only 

 occasionally flitting about the wild cruciferous plants. The velvety-green 

 caterpillar of the cabbage butterfly is very destructive and is well known. 

 It feeds on other cruciferous garden-plants but prefers cabbage. 



