PAPILIO. 



Prgan of tl;e flew Jork pntomological piub. 



Vol. 2.] June, 1882. [No. 6. 



SOME POINTS IN THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 PAPILIO MACHAON, L. 



By William Buckler. 



[Reprinted from the "Entomologists' Monthly Magazine," London, April, 1882.] 



Contrary to our usual custom, we reprint the following admirable paper, in 

 the belief that it may be of seivice to those who in this country are studying the 

 life history of our butterflies. It is needless to say anything of the value of Mr. 

 Buckler's careful observations. They will speak for themselves. — Editor. 



In offering my notes on the history of this species, I know I 

 am going upon ground to some extent already well trodden, and 

 it is, therefore, not on the plea of telling anything quite new that 

 I put them forward; but, knowing that there is now, more than ever, 

 an interest felt in obtaining exact information as to the process of 

 growth or development in the earlier stages of various forms, and 

 being conscious that I have done my best in this case, I still hope 

 that my work may be of use ; I only wish I could impart to others 

 anything approaching the pleasure I myself felt in watching and 

 recording what follows 



In 1868, I had reared the larvas from two eggs found in Bur- 

 well Fen by Mr. W. R. Jeffrey, and two more in 1871, from eggs 

 found by Mr. C. G. Barrett, in Horning Fen, and had taken several 

 figures in either case, but when in 1879 Mr. W. H. Edwards, of 

 Coalburg, West Virginia, put some questions to me on the number 

 of moults and other points connected with them, I found I could 

 not give such positive answers as I could have wished. 



I determined, therefore, to rear the larva, if possible, again, 

 and Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher most kindly helped to bring my pro- 

 ject within. range of possibility by sending me three eggs, on June 



