344 



MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



selected for this purpose were usually the low bushes not over a foot 

 or two high, and three or four of the light green larvfe were some- 

 times seen quietly feeding on one bush. Toward evening the butter- 

 flies collected about the paw paw bushes and settled for the night 

 clinging to the under side of the leaves, where early in the morning 

 tliey might be taken with tlie fingers. Many of the transfers of this 

 species for this work have been made from butterflies taken in south- 

 ern Ohio. It is not difficult to rear this insect in captivity. Some 

 of the chrysalides are light green and others brown, and are translu- 

 cent until the butterfly begins to form beneatli the outer shell. 



Several very beautiful species closely allied to PapiUo ajax are 

 natives of Central and Soutli Ameiica. In Colombia my brothers 

 took some of the largest and finest of the grouj), specimens of which 

 now adorn our cabinets. 



Larva and chrysalis of Papilio cresphontes. 



One of our largest and most strikingly colored butterflies is 

 Papilio cresphontes, a very good idea of which may be had by refer- 

 ence to the transfer. 



The contrast between tlie upper and under side of the insect is 

 very marked, and when on the wing the butterfly looks black at one 

 moment and yellow at anotlier, according to wliich side of the wings 

 is seen by the observers. The home of this fine butterfly is in the 

 southern and western states, but it is sometimes to be found in 

 the north and several specimens have been taken near my home in 

 Massachusetts within the last few yeais. It is abundant in southern 

 Illinois in July, and is not at all i-aie in southern Oliio at that season 

 of the year. On looking out of the car window as the train stopped for 



