THE SWALLOWTAILS 79 



Such a condition of affairs certainly represents wliat an 

 old New Englander would be likely to call a "mixed-up 

 mess," and it is difficult for science to find rhyme or reason 

 to explain it. It speaks eloquently for the perseverance of 

 W. H. Edwards that he was able with infinite patience 

 through years of study and experiment to untangle this in- 

 tricate web of butterfly existence. 



While the preferred food plant of this species is papaw, 

 the caterpillars are also known to feed upon the spice bush 

 and upland huckleberry. When full grown these cater- 

 pillars are about two inches long and of a general pea-green 

 color, banded transversely with yellow and black, and hav- 

 ing an especially conspicuous band of this sort on the third 

 ring behind the head. The scent organs are protruded 

 when the larva is disturbed and emit an offensive odor. 

 The chrysahds are green or brown according to the sur- 

 roundings. 



The Zebra Swallowtail is a southern butterfly found as 

 far west as Texas and the Rocky Mountains and having its 

 northern limits in a zone ranging approximately from 

 Massachusetts to Nebraska. It is especially abundant in 

 the Southern states east of the IVIississippi River. 



Mr. S. F. Denton found this species abundant in south- 

 ern Ohio where the females laid their eggs upon the small 

 papaw bushes. They selected the leaves of these bushes 

 for sleeping quarters, "clinging to the under side of the 

 leaves where early in the morning they might be taken 

 with the fingers." 



Other Swallowtails 



Several other Swallowtail butterflies are found within 

 Uie limits of the United States, especially in the Far West 



