184: FAMILIAR FEATURES OF THE ROADSIDE. 



His back is bright yellowish gold, sometimes of a 

 milky tone ; beneath he is copper-color, covered with 

 fine whitish hairs. 



In a partially shaded spot beside the covered 

 bridge which crosses the shallow mountain stream 

 we may be favored by the sight of many golden 

 flower clusters of the wild parsnip (Pastinaca sa- 

 tiva\ or those of its near relative, the early meadow 

 parsnip (Zizia aurea). In some damp spot near the 

 river on the meadow perhaps these tall weeds are 

 sure to appear in June. Their favorite attendant is 

 the black, yellow-spotted butterfly (Papilio asteri- 

 as)* sometimes called the " black swallowtail." This 

 is one of the commonest and prettiest butterflies 

 which visit the roadside flowers. Its wings are 

 marked with a double row of yellow spots ; there 

 are also yellow and bluish marks on the hind wings 

 as well, and these are swallow-tail pointed. This 

 butterfly invariably chooses some member of the 

 Parsley family, on the leaves of which it prefers to 

 lay its eggs. The caterpillar is pea-green, naked, and 

 about two inches long. 



The monarch, or tawny orange butterfly (Anosia 

 plexippus)^ which is also commonly seen on the 



* Papilio polyxenes, Scudder. 



f Also called Danais archippus and Danais erippns. Its 

 powers of flight exceed those of any other butterfly. It migrates 



