280 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



green colour, with ornamentations of gold; it 

 is very pretty. Later the colour darkens and 

 finally, when the adult is about to emerge, one can 

 see the markings of the insect, for the pupal shell 

 is transparent. In warm weather, from 9 to 15 days 

 are passed in the pupal stage. Pupas found on the 

 food plant are usually parasitised, hence are very 

 often found on bracken or other plants near. Danaida 

 is an introduced butterfly. 



Danaida petilia is a much smaller ** wanderer. ' ^ If 

 the larvae of these butterflies are placed in a card- 

 board box with a glass lid, and the box then placed 

 on its side, one can watch the life history with ease. 



We brought home some pods of the wild cotton 

 from Port Hacking to Sydney, and from the seeds a 

 couple of plants grew. For the first time Ave 

 noticed the visits of a beautiful Danaida, which 

 came several days in succession and laid eggs on 

 tlic plant. 



Another interesting genus is Eiiploca, with wings 

 of velvety black with cream patches. The children 

 often admii-e and bring in their beautiful golden or 

 silvern pupae. 



m 



