38 



Fig. f<. engraved expressly for 



this report, we have an 

 excellent representation 

 ' of the female. The spots 

 forming the outer band 

 are smaller and near the 

 margin. Besides these, 

 the fore wings have one 

 or two spots towards the 

 upper margin and the 

 hind wings, which are 

 tailed, have a series of 

 seven blue spotsorpatch- 

 es, and near their hinder 

 angle an eye-like spot of 

 an orange colour, with a 

 black centre. 



The under surface of both wings is paler, with the spots arranged nearly as above, 

 excepting that those on the hind wings are tinted with orange. The body is black, with 

 longitudinal rows of yellow spots. The wings, when spread, measure from three and a- 

 half to four inches across. 



The caterpillars, when fresh from the egg, do not measure more than a tenth of an 

 inch in length, are black with a broad white band across the middle, and another on the 

 hinder segments, while the body is studded with small black projecting points. After 

 the first skin is cast the white band is restricted to the sixth and seventh segments, and 

 around the base of the black projecting points are spots of an orange colour, while low 

 down on the sides is a row of white spots ; there are also two of the same colour on the 

 top of the first segment, and a larger one on the hinder segment With each moult 

 these caterpillars alter in colour and appearance, and before they are half grown the pro- 

 jecting points, white band, and spots entirely disappear, the skin becomes smooth and of 

 a delicate green colour, rather paler at the sides and whitish below, and each ring is crossed 

 by a band composed of alternate black and }'ellow spots. When irritated they push 

 forth, from a slit in the first segment of the body, a pair of soft, orange-coloured horns, 

 united at their base, and shaped somewhat like the letter Y ; from these, when extended, 

 a disagieeable odour is given off, which serves to defend the caterpillars from the attack 

 of their enemies. They feed on parsley, rue, carrot, parsnip, carraway, and several other 

 plants, both wUd and cultivated. When full grown the caterpillar measures an inch and 

 a half in length, it then leaves off eating, and seeks a sheltered spot in which to pass the 

 chrysalis state. Here it first spins a little web of silk against the surface of the spot se 

 lected, to which its hind feet are firmly secured, it then spins a loop or girth of silken 

 threads to furnish a support to the body, after which it casts its caterpillar skin and 

 appears as a chrysalis. In this state it continues from ten to fifteen days in summer, the 

 time varying with the temperature, when the butterfly escapes. 



