PAPILIONID^. 



351 



nearly round than in Pap'dio aster-las. There are also several other 

 well-marked characteristics by which the insects ma}^ be separated. 



Larva of Papilio troilus. 



The female deposits her eggs singly on the leaves of the spice 

 bush and sassafras, and tlie young larva is no sooner out of the egg 

 than it begins to prepare a habitation for itself where it shall be safe 

 from the prying eyes of the insect-eating birds. This is constructed 

 in the following manner. Selecting a suitable leaf of its food plant, 

 the larv^a commences to spin a fine web backward and forward across 

 the middle portion of the leaf. As this wel^ is stretched tightly, the 



Chrysalis of Papilio troilus. 



sides of the leaf soon begin to fold over and as the web is added to, 

 they finally come together over the back of the insect, entirely shield- 

 ing it from sight. Unlike some of the larv;e of other butterflies, 

 which no sooner complete a home than they make their first meal 

 off the leaves which compose it, this insect rarely oi- never nibbles 

 its habitation, but keeps it in the perfection of good order and neat- 

 ness. It rarely ventures forth during the daytime, but remains 

 quietly resting upon its silken cot and at evening cautiously crawls 

 out to feed upon the surrounding foliage. As the larva grows the 



