LAKVAL HABITS OF IPHICLIDES AJAX. 113 



country gave a fresh impetus to the number of insects that were avail- 

 able, and the number of Argynnis niobe was most marked. Among 

 other insects Brenthis selene occuxyqH, always a most interesting species 

 at this elevation ; HrfivfJn's palea now became very abundant, and, as 

 the country opened out into the final stretch leading up to the 

 Diirrboden with the Scaletta glacier in full view, a lai'ge white butterfly 

 flapped down in front of us, and disclosed at once Far)iassius deliiis, 

 2 , the first Parnassid seen in the valley. A couple of ^ s were then 

 successfully stalked as they came down from the slopes towards the 

 grassy flats that borders the stream that here hustles down the valley 

 at a rather slower pace than usual. The number of examples of 

 Pieris hrassicae observed in the valley throughout the day had been 

 remarkable, and so large were they, that it was not often easy to 

 discriminate between them and P. delius at a little distance. P. rapae 

 was also abundant, but of P. najyi only one worn $ was noticed. 

 Here too Colios palaeno was fairly abundant, swinging along the slopes 

 at tremendous pace. It was absolutely necessary to examine the 

 species at close quarters, and, after some energy had been expended, 

 perhaps half-a-dozen were captured, all remarkably small, but hope- 

 lessly worn and worthless. The afternoon was now drawing to a 

 close, so slow had been our progress up the valley, and as there seemed 

 little more to be done this day, we turned our faces towards Davos, 

 hoping that, if ever good fortune settled that we should again visit 

 the Dischma-Thal, we should do so at least three weeks earlier than, 

 on the present occasion. On the way down the valley we saw a 

 specimen of Argijnnis aglaia asleep, resting on the underside of a sallow 

 leaf about 5-|ft. from the ground, very similarly to one observed in the 

 late afternoon of August 1st, which was resting near the same place on. 

 the underside of an alder-leaf about 4^ft. from the ground. 



Larval habits of Iphiclldes ajax. 



By CECIL FLOERSHEIM, B.A., F.E.S. 



(1) Piesting -habit ijoiing : The young larva of Iphiclides aja.v rests 

 usually either on the underside of the leaves of Asiiiiina triloba (papaw), 

 or upon the dark grey stems of that plant with which its colour exactly 

 harmonises. Whilst resting, its thoracic legs are not clasped ; and it 

 does not adopt the " sphinx-like attitude " so frequently presented by 

 the young larva of Papiiio macJiaon, but is outstretched. When under- 

 going ecdysis it rests also either on the underside of a leaf, or upon 

 the stem of its foodplant. 



(2) Feeding-habit yoioiii : On emergence from the ovum, the larva 

 of I. aja.v does not eat the empty egg-shell, contrary to what Scudder 

 says (JliittK. New Kngl., vol. ii., p. 1273), in fact I have been unable to 

 discover that it does anymore than make a passage lor its proportionately 

 verj' large head. It feeds as it rests on the underside of the leaves,, 

 and generally eats pieces more or less circular in shape, from the young 

 leaves of Asiviina triloba, the holes made being minute at first, but 

 increasing with the growth of the larva. It feeds entirely during the 

 day, and eats its cast skins. Sometimes the newly-hatched larva will 

 feed on the upperside of the leaf, but it soon loses this habit entirely. 



(3) llei^ting-liabit old : On the underside of a leaf of Asimina triloba, 

 rarely on the stem of the plant, and then only, as a rule, if of the dark 



