300 MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



insect-eating animals. On this account tliey fly boldly forth, making 

 little or no effort at concealment. 



These protected insects have been the subjects of unconscious 

 imitation or mimicry by butterflies belonging to other groups less 

 favored by nature, and man}^ of the species are so exactly copied 

 both in coloring and also in habits as not only to deceive the birds 

 but also the collectors. 



One of our largest and best known butterflies belonging to this 

 genus is Danais archippus. The larva feeds on the milkweed, and is 



Larva of Danais arcliippus. 



a prettily marked creature, being banded transversely with black, 

 yellow and green, and having two long black fleshy horns or filaments 

 at either end of the body. It is easily reared in conlinement, and the 

 cluysalis, which is translucent pea green relieved with a line of black 

 dots across the Ijack and rows of circular spots of burnished gold 



Cbrysalie of Danais aicLippus. 



about the thorax and along the sides, is an object rarely equalled for 

 beauty in art or nature. The butteifl}- makes its appearance about 

 two weeks after the chrysalis is formed, the color of the wings being 

 plainly visible througli tlie thin elirysalis shell for a day or two before 



