364 Gervase F. Mathew's Ufc-Jtistory of three 



plate, with a transverse slit or valve in it, through 

 which the nuchal tentacle is emitted ; and when this 

 tentacle is thrust out to its fullest extent the larvae have 

 the additional power of shooting out a fine, colourless, 

 thread-like filament from the tip of each branch of the 

 tentacle, the larva tossing its head backwards, or moving 

 it rapidly from side to side all the time. As soon as the 

 cause of irritation is over these little filaments are first 

 withdrawn before the tentacle itself disappears through 

 the valve-like aperture. All the time the tentacle is 

 exposed an unpleasant pungent odour, as of rotten 

 oranges, is distinctly perceptible ; but this is, I believe, 

 common to most larvae of the Papilionidce. In confine- 

 ment I noticed that the larvae fed only by day, remaining 

 perfectly quiescent during the night ; and the larvas of 

 P. Sclimeltzi have the same habits. 



Bearing larvae on board ship is, of course, attended 

 with much difficulty, as it is nearly impossible to obtain 

 a constant supply of fresh food for them. However, in 

 the case of the larvae just described I found it easy to 

 dig up small plants — about a foot high — of Aralia 

 (taking care to see that there was as much earth as 

 possible attached to the roots). These I placed in empty 

 biscuit-tins, with more earth, and kept well watered, 

 and found that they remained fresh for weeks. Indeed, 

 as I write this (August 21st), the plants are still alive, 

 and throwing out a new crop of leaves. Another thing 

 in my favour was that during the two months the larvae 

 were feeding we were cruising among the Fijian, 

 Samoan, and Tonga Islands, where plenty of the food 

 could be got, and, as we were seldom at sea for more 

 than a few daj^s at a time, I was able to gather fresh 

 food pretty frequently, and only allowed the larviB to eat 

 the growing plants when we were actually at sea and 

 their other food had shrivelled. 



The tins were secured upon a table in my cabin, and 

 on the wall behind these were some pictures framed in 

 maroon-coloured velvet. One morning I noticed that 

 a larva of Pajnlio Godcffroiji had attached itself to a 

 • leaf which was almost touching one of these frames, 

 and when I looked at it the next morning I was surprised 

 to see that it had changed to a chrysalis of a beautiful 

 deep rose-colour. After this I thought I would try some 

 experiments, so I pinned some twigs, to which were 

 attached larva) that were on the point of changing, to 



