2 SWALLOW-TAIL. 



parish of Glanville's AVootton : he took twelve sjiecimens there in three 

 days, ahout forty years ago, but has not seen one since. Also at 

 Cranborne, Wimborne Minster, and on Fifehead Common, in the 

 same county, in former years; so too at Pulborough. In Hampshire, 

 Middlesex, Sussex, Essex, and Kent, in Norfolk at Acle, near Yar- 

 mouth, in plenty, and also in meadows at Oby and Thurne, in some 

 years in great abundance, as likewise, Mr. Postans informs me, at 

 Horning Ferry, near the ruins of St. Benedict's Abbey, and at 

 Hoveton; also in Somersetshire, at Weston-Super-Mare. But most of 

 all in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, where, in the fenny 

 districts, it has been, and even is still, very abundant, though, as 

 those parts are fast being drained, it is to be feared that we may in 

 time lose this most conspicuous ornament of our cabinets. They still 

 exist at Wicken Fen. 



The perfect insect is taken from the beginning of May to the end 

 of August. One was bred as early as March, by Denny, at Cambridge ; 

 April iiOth., by Markwick ; May 15th., by M. Harris; May 'il-ith., 

 1822, by Kirby ; June 6th., by J. C. Dale, Esq., and one so late as 

 September 1st. in 1809. I had one out of chrysalis in my own case, 

 on the 20th. of October, 1860. 



The caterpillar occurs from June to September. It feeds on various 

 umbelliferous plants, particularly on the marsh parsley, (Sclhium 

 palustrv,) the wild carrot, (Daucus carota,) and the fennel, [Ancthum 

 fceniculum.) 



The Swallow-tail measures, in different specimens, from three inches 

 to three inches and three quarters in the expanse of the wings. The 

 ground-colour is yellow, with black markings. The fore wings have 

 a large patch of black, dotted with yellow at the base, and the 

 front margin is black, with three large black marks. The nerves are 

 also black, as is likewise the hind margin, on which are eight yellow 

 marks, and above is a thick powdering of minute yellow dots. The 

 hind wings are also yellow; the inner margin, and a broad border on 

 the outside, black, the latter with six yellow crescents, above which is 

 a thick sprinkling of blue dots. Near the inside corner is a red eye, 

 margined with yellow beneath and blue above, the latter with a black 

 crescent above it. 



The under side of the wings is lighter-coloured than the upper, 

 and the black markings are less extended. A narrow black bar 

 supersedes the yellow crescents, above which the dotting of yellow 

 is more thick. The outside black bar of the hind wings is much 

 lighter-coloured, the black being limited to its curved margins, and 

 in the middle of the hind wings are three triangular red spots, and 



