190 BULLETIISr 15 7, IT. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



ticularly in the vicinity of marshy spots, where it is the commonest 

 and most conspicuous of the butterflies. It becomes less common in 

 the drier woods, where the yellow swallowtail prevails, and in the 

 open fields. 



Habits. — The spicebush swallowtail is more active than the yellow 

 swallowtail and has a more nervous, more rapid, and less irregular 

 flight, which is usually from 5 to 10 feet above the ground. It gives 

 the imiDression of being a serious-minded butterfly, flying steadily 

 along, pausing frequently, then going on again, seldom alighting. 

 It is the only local swallowtail that seems to be thoroughly at home 

 in deep shady woods. 



On coming to a road this swallowtail, like P. palamedes^ almost 

 invariably flies directly across it 3 or 4 feet above the surface. All 

 our other swallowtails usually turn and fly along the roadside, or 

 for some distance along the road itself. If they cross the road they 

 do so at any angle. 



The males and females appear to be quite alike in habits, and the 

 relative proportion of the sexes seems not to vary with locality. 



The large individuals of the summer brood are more indolent and 

 have a somewhat more leisurely flight than the smaller ones that fly 

 in spring. 



This species is fond of flowers, though less strongly attracted by 

 them than are our other swallowtails. In spring it favors especially 

 the flowers of the Japanese hone3^suckle, which grows in profusion 

 in its chosen haunts. Later it is to be found feeding with the other 

 swallowtails, particularly on clover and on thistles growing near the 

 woods. When feeding it often, but not always, keeps its wings in 

 motion ; small spring individuals are more likely to do this than the 

 large ones of the later brood. It is occasionally to be seen hovering 

 about damp spots, and shows an interest in filth and carrion, though 

 by no means the intense interest exhibited by the yellow swallowtail. 



The actions of the spicebush swallowtail may briefly be described 

 as intermediate between those of the yellow and the parsnip swallow- 

 tails. 



Broods. — The spicebush swallowtail has two broods a year. It 

 first appears, in small numbers, in the latter half of April or early in 

 May according to season, the males flying about a week before the 

 females. Toward the end of May it is usually very common. The 

 numbers then decline, but fresh individuals again appear about the 

 middle of June and slowly increase in numbers so that by August 

 the insect has become abundant. Fresh individuals continue to 

 emerge until at least the middle of September, and the butterfly can 

 be seen until well into October. August and early in September are 

 the periods of greatest abundance, and also, as in the case of the 

 yellow swallowtail, the periods of maximum dispersal. 



