348 



MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



cokl and wet weather having a tendency to prolong the period. 

 When tliis is terminated, the skin of the chrysalis bursts open and 

 a butterfly issues from it, clings to the empty shell till its crumpled 

 and drooping wings have extended to their full dimensions and have 

 become dried, upon which it flies away in pursuit of companions and 

 food." 



Papilio asterias. Male. 



Mr. Harris, I think, errs in statiiig that the larva spins a silken 

 girth and then " gi'adually works the loop over its back," as those 

 whicli I have watched during this performance have s[)un the girdle 

 from side to side over the body, bending the head backwards and at- 

 taching the thread of silk on eacli side, repeating the operation until 

 the loop was sutficiently strong to hold its weight. 



So plentiful are the chrysalides at times that I have taken doz- 

 ens of them from the underside of the capping board of a fence 

 which bounded a neglected held of carrots, where the plants had been 

 stripped to mere stalks by the caterpillars. This butterfly is often seen 

 in compan}' with other species along country roads, but is not an easy 

 species to capture, being rather shy and flying rapidly when alarmed. 



