THE SWALLOWTAILS 77 



lest that when it is once seen it is likely always to be re- 

 membered. The striking combination of green and black 

 stripes with very long tails, set off by beautiful crescents of 

 blue and of red, at once distinguishes this fine butterfly in 

 any of its varying forms. 



Three distinct forms of this species occur, namely: 



Marcellus, the early spring form, small in size with short 

 tails, that show white only on the tips; 



Telamonides, the late spring form, somewhat larger, 

 with tails a little longer and showing more white on the 

 outer half; 



AjaXy the summer form, decidedly larger with tails very 

 long. 



It would be a comparatively simple matter to under- 

 stand these forms if they were simply seasonal variations, 

 with three broods, each form succeeding the other as the 

 season advances. But this is far from being the case. 

 We have instead the most complicated and confusing 

 series of conditions imaginable — conditions for which no 

 one has yet given satisfactory explanations. 



To make a fairly clear statement of what happens, sup- 

 pose we assume that we start with twenty over- wintering 

 chrysalids. In April ten of these disclose their butterflies 

 which are Marcellus, the early spring form. In May the 

 other ten disclose their butterflies which are Telamonides, 

 the late spring form. We thus have these two forms ap- 

 pearing successively in spring from the same set of over- 

 wintering chrysalids. 



After flying about for a short time the Marcellus or 

 early spring SwaUowtails lay eggs upon the leaves of pa- 

 paw trees or bushes. These eggs soon hatch into cater- 

 pillars that feed upon the leaves and grow rather rapidly. 



