10 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 
its back, and by the repeated action of the anterior segments, it gradually brings it to that part of the body 
best calculated to balance it when it shall have assumed the chrysalis state. It sometimes however happens, 
that notwithstanding all its care, the threads of the loop slip off its legs. This is indeed a woful calamity to the 
poor larva, which has the greatest difficulty, and is sometimes unable, to collect the threads of the loop upon its 
legs, trying every contortion of limb to effect this purpose, but sometimes in vain. Should it however succeed, 
the body is stretched forward in a right line, and remains in this position until the skin is cast, being slit down 
the back by the contortions and annular contractions of the insect, the girth being too loose to form a material 
hindrance to its being slipped backwards to the tail, where it is ultimately thrown entirely off. 

SPECIES 2.—PAPILIO PODALIRIUS. THE SCARCE SWALLOW-TAIL BUTTERFLY. 
Plate i. fig. 4—6. 
Synonyes.— Papilio (ELquites, Achivi) Podalirius, Linn. Syst. a 
Nat. ii. 751. Donovan Brit. Ins. 4, pl. 109. Lewin Brit. Butt. Podalirius Europaus, Swainson. 
pl. 35. Curtis Brit. Entomol. pl. 578. Westwood Ent. Text Book, Tphiclides Podalirius, Hubner. 
pl. 4, fig. 1. Duncan Brit. Butt. pl. 4, fig. 2. 
This fine butterfly is about the same size as, or rather larger than, P. Machaon, varying from three inches to 
four inches and a half in expanse. The hind wings are also longer; the ground colour of the wings is much 
lighter, being straw or cream yellow. The fore wings have two broad black bars crossing them near the base, and 
extending half-way across the hind wings; the second of these is succeeded by a black bar extending from the 
costa to the middle nerve of the wing, and this by a stripe entirely crossing the wing, but gradually narrowed 
behind ; this is accompanied by another shorter narrower bar extending from the fore margin nearly half across 
the wing; the apex of the wing has a broad black edge narrowed towards the posterior angle, and divided by a 
narrow yellow stripe. The extremity of the hind wings is black, with a black anal patch, having a blue lunule in 
its middle, and bordered above with red, forming an eye. The posterior margin has four or five lunules of blue 
specks, and the edges are indented with yellow crescents ; the tip of the tails is also yellow. 
The under side is paler than the upper, the black markings being less extended; and the fascia on the middle 
of the hind wings is formed of two narrow black lines, the outer one being edged within with orange. 
Like P. Machaon, this species inhabits the whole of the Southern and temperate parts of Europe (being 
found plentifully near Berlin, at Moscow, and even at Hamburgh), the North of Africa, and Asia Minor. Its 
claim, however, to be ranked as a British species has occasioned much controversy. The great Ray says that he 
had found it “née male memini in Anglia ;” and Berkenhout, in his Outlines of British Natural History, that it is 
“yare in woods.” Dr, Abbott stated to Mr. Haworth, that he took a specimen near Clapham Park Wood, in 
Bedfordshire. The Rev. F. W. Hope, F. R.8., has informed me that he took a specimen near Netley ; and 
W. H. R. Read, Esq. has also informed me that whilst at Eton, about the year 1826 (the last year of his being 
at that school), he took a specimen on the wing between Slough and Datchet, previously to the month of July, 
when the vacation commences. This specimen, which is a very dark-coloured one, has been figured by Mr. Curtis, 
who gives a different date to the capture from that mentioned to me by Mr. Read himself. In my copy of 
Haworth’s Lepidoptera Britannica, which belonged to Donovan, I find the following pencil note in the hand- 
writing of the latter, opposite P. Podalirius:— One in Mr, Swainson’s cabinet, which he told me was taken by 
his brother-in-law, Captain Bray, I think he said in the Isle of Wight.” 
