2 European Butterflies and Moths. 



and Caligo). It also includes the greater part of the Swallow-tailed Butterflies, which are so 

 numerous and so handsome in all tropical countries. In cold countries we only find a few 

 species of this family, but they are, nevertheless, among the largest and finest of our indigenous 

 butterflies. All our European PapilionidcE are white or yellow, with black markings and red 

 or blue spots ; but every shade of colouring m.ay be found among exotic species. The larvae 

 have a fleshy fork behind the head, which they thrust out when alarmed. The butterflies are 

 generally found in open places, fly low, and settle frequently on flowers or in damp places, and 

 arc therefore not difficult to capture, although capable of a high and rapid flight. 



GENUS I. — PAPILIO (LINN.). 



Large and strong butterflies, with broad, triangular fore-wings and dentated hind-wings ; a 

 long tail before the anal angle. The colour is yellow, with black spots and stripes, and a large 

 eye-like spot at the anal angle of the hind-wings. The larva; are naked, with a small round 

 head, and there are two or three broods in the year. The pupa; are angular, with two projecting 

 points in front, and are attached to plants by the tail, and a thread round the body. 



1. P. Podalirius (Linn.), {Scarce Szvallow-tait). — Wings pale yellow, with black transverse 

 bands, the intermediate ones on the fore-wings shorter ; hind-wings with a black border marked 

 with several blue crescents. They have also a long tail, and the eye-spot is orange in front, 

 and black, dusted with blue, behind. Expands from 2f to 3! inches. It is met with in open 

 places near woods, especially in hilly districts, in May and July, and is common in Southern 

 and Central Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia as far as Persia and the Altai. It appears 

 to have formerly inhabited England, but is now extinct. It varies in size, intensity of colour, 

 and the length of the tails ; the variety Feisthatnclii (Dup.) is much whiter ; and the variety 

 Zanckeus (Zell.) has a white abdomen in the male. Both these occur in South Europe ; the 

 variety Virgatus (Butl.), from Damascus, is smaller than the type, and the tails are very long 

 in proportion. The larva is thick, shaped somewhat like a woodlouse, and contracted behind. 

 It is green, with yellow lines on the back and sides, and with yellow transverse lines spotted with 

 red. It turns yellow when about to change into a pupa. It lives on almond, sloe, plum, apple, 

 pear, and oak from June to August, and may be obtained by shaking sloe-bushes over an 

 inverted umbrella. Figured in all stages at PI. 2, Fig. i, a — d. 



2. P. Alcxanor (Esp.). — Wings yellow above, with black transverse stripes, of which the 

 second and third on the fore-wings are short, and the fourth is dusted with yellow. The 

 sub-marginal band of the hind-wings is dusted with blue, and dentated externally. The eye-spot 

 is yellowish-red, bordered in front with black, dusted with blue. Expands from 2i to 3 

 inches. It is found in May, June, and July, in the Alpine meadows of Southern Europe, but 

 is not very common, although its range extends from the Pyrenees to Persia. The larva is 

 green, with black stripes, and rows of black and yellow spots on the sides. It feeds on different 

 species of Alpine umbelliferous plants in July. The butterfly is figured at PI. 2, Fig. 2. 



*3. /'. Llachaon (Linn.), {Swalhnv-tail). — Wings sulphur-yellow, fore-wings black at the base, 

 and with black veins. They have also black spots on the costa, and a broad black sub-marginal 

 band dusted with yellow. The hind-wings are broadly black, dusted with blue, before the hind 

 margin, and the eye-spot is red, bordered in front with black and blue. All the wings with 

 yellow lunules before the hind margins. Expands from 3 to 4 inches. It is found throughout 



* British species are throughout this work distinguished by an asterisk. 



