192 THE BUTTERFLIES OF np:av p:ngland. 



of a miniature Gothic cathedral. Sometimes, in the tiarate eggs, this 

 rosette is situated at the bottom of a very deep and narrow well, and can 

 with difficulty be seen. Often their patterns woidd furnish useful hints 

 to the decorator, and especially for all forms of embroidery, as our plates 

 67-69 will show. The cells which form the interior of the rosette are the 

 points at which microscopic pores lead into the interior of the egg, and 

 through which it is fertilised. With this in view, we can understand why 

 this rosette should form the goal of movement of e\ery part of the struc- 

 ture. 



When freshly laid, the eggs are generally of some shade of pale green, 

 though in the Pamphilidi, with their opaque shells, they are nearly chalky 

 white ; but during the development of the caterpillar (or of parasites) 

 within, all sorts of colors may be assumed, often of a rich or almost gaudy 

 hue ; these colors are sometimes shown on our plates. 



The eggs of butterflies are always laid in full vicAv excepting that in a 

 few instances they are partially concealed by being thrust into crevices. 

 Usually hatching in a few days, they are generally laid upon the very 

 leaves the caterpillar will eat or upon the stem close at hand ; but when, 

 as in some cases (only known among Lycaenidae), the egg remains all 

 winter, the butterfly selects the stem, and, as an additional protection, chooses 

 a spot next a leaf-bud, or other projection, or tucks the egg in some crevice 

 of the bark. It is even stated by Salesbury, according to Rennie, and 

 repeated by European writers, that the egg of Aporia crataegi may last 

 three years and then hatch, but the statement seems to me fairly open to 

 doubt imtil verified. For ordinarily the eggs of this species are laid in clusters 

 (whether on leaf or twig I find no statement) , and give birth the same year to 

 caterpillars which winter in small clusters in webs. All butterflies which 

 winter as eggs feed as caterpillars on trees or shrubs, never on herbaceous 

 plants. As a general rule the eggs are laid singly, but in not a few cases, 

 oftenest found in the Nymphalidae and Papilionidae, they are laid in clus- 

 ters of from two or three to several hundreds. Sometimes these are rude 

 bunches piled loosely or in layers one upon another ; sometimes they are 

 laid in more or less regular single or double rows ; sometimes in a single 

 column of three, or four, or even as many as ten eggs, one atop another; 

 or they may girdle a twig like a fiiiry ring. 



BIBLIOGRArHY. 



Doherty, W. Journ. Asiaticsoc. Beng., Iv : 107-111 (1886). 



Edwards, W. H. Can. ent., xvi : 109-110 (1884) . 



Goossens, Th. Ann. soc. ent. France (6) iv: 129-146 pi. 5 (1884). 



Scudder, S. H. Butterflies, Cliap. 1, figs. (1881). 



Werueburg, A. Der schnictterliug und sein leben. 150-151 (1874). 



