GRAPTA V. 



cover a single one. The eggs are destroyed by spiders and various insects by whole- 

 sale. I have had the contents of one of my kegs swept away in a night, leaving not a 

 trace of shell behind, and in same way I have lost scores of small larvse. The 

 only safe mode of securing them is to transfer the larvae as soon as hatched to the 

 house. Finally, after the larvae have escaped all apj^arent danger and have 

 changed to chrysalids, the imago therein is often destroyed by ichneumon-flies. 

 So that it is doubtful if much more than two per cent of the eggs laid produce but- 

 terflies. The perils of the winter destroy nearly all the last brood, and in the 

 Sirring but few of the butterflies are to be seen. They become more plenty as 

 the successive broods apj^ear, but, one season with another, the number seems to 

 be about the same. 



Note. — The first mention of a Papilio Q aureum is in Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1700, 

 I, p. 477, as follows. "C aureum, P. N. alis angulatis fulvis nigro maculatis; jjos- 

 ticis subtus C aureo notatis. Habitat in Asia." 



This species is now recognized as equivalent to Angelica, Cramer, pi. 388, an 

 Asiatic species found in India and Japan, materially differing from any American 

 Grapta. 



In 1775, Fabricius, Syst. Eut. page 506, describes O aureum nearly in same 

 words, viz: "P. alis dentato-caudatis, fulvis, nigro-maculatis ; posticis subtus C 

 aureo notatis. Habitat in Asia," and refers to Linnaeus. 



In 1781, Fabricius, Sp. Ins. II, p. 94. again describes C aureum in same words, 

 with same reference to Linnsieus and habitat, but refers also to Cramer, II, pi. 19, 

 fig. E. F. Cramer's figures purjiort to represent an American sjiecies, which may 

 properly be considered as the one had in view by Fabricius, although there was 

 error in his reference to Linnaeus and in his habitat, caused naturally by the vague 

 description of Linnanis. 



I am satisfied that Ci'amer's figures are intended to represent Umbrosa$, 

 though the execution is wretched. Mr Scudder conjectured that they might have 

 bceu taken from a third species possibly to be fountl in the Southern States and 

 West Indies, and he proposed for this the name Cramerii. But I think the diffi- 

 culty is altogether with the artist. 



In 1797, Abbot (Insects of Georgia) figured, without description, as C aureum 

 the male Umlirom. 



In 1798, Fabricius (Supp't p. 424), for the first time mentions and describes P. 

 Interrogationis, viz; "alis caudatis fulvis nigro maculatis, subtus glaucis: striga 

 punctoruiii nigroruin, posticis C aureo notatis. 



Halntat in America boreali. 



Nimis affinis P. C aureo at 'paullo major et alae subtus glauece striga punctorum 

 nigroruin.''' 



Wings tailed, fulvous spotted with black, beneath glaucous (i. e. a blue or green 

 inclining to grey or white) with a transverse band (striga) of black points. * * * * 

 Extremely liivC P. C aureum but a little larger and the witigs beneath glaucous with 

 a traiisoerse band of black points. 



