150 



BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



52. Swallow-tail (Papilio Machann). 



with purplish scales, and the red is almost 

 enclosed in a black circumscription. 



Obs. At page 340 of the first volume of 

 the "Entomologist," Mr. Gaze has given us 

 so graphic an account of the eaily life of this 

 beautiful butterfly that I prefer transferring 

 it entire, as a prelude to my own description 

 of the caterpillar and chrysalis from life. 



LIFE HISTORY. " Having in the spring of 

 1840 obtained a number of chrysalids from 

 F.urwell-sedge Fen, near Newmarket, Cam- 

 bridgeshire, a male and female emerged from 

 them on the morning of the 27th of May, and 

 were left, near each other on the window- 

 blind to expand and dry their wings ; on my 

 return from a short walk I was agreeably 

 surprised to find them in coitu, and, having a 

 fine plant of the marsh hog's fennel or milk 

 parsley (Peucedanum palustre), growing in a 

 garden-pot, I placed it in the window of the 

 room, and confined the female on it, as well 

 as I could, with the window-blind. On the 

 20th she had deposited fourteen EGGS, but 

 appearing nearly exhausted I supplied her 

 with a little moistened sugar in a teaspoon, at 

 the same time uncurling her trunk with a pin : 

 she seemed to enjoy her feast, and being left 

 with the sash raised about an inch for the 

 admission of air, made her escape. The plant 

 was returned to its place in the garden with 

 the eggs attached ; they were of an oval shape 

 and of a pale green colour, but changed in a 



few days to steel-blue, and, before the ex- 

 clusion of the caterpillar, to black. The first 

 CATERPILLAR was hatched on the 10th of June, 

 and the others on the following day ; they 

 were at first black and spiny, with a light- 

 coloured patch in the middle of the back. 

 The shell of the egg was, in every instance, 

 the first meal of the caterpillars, and the cast- 

 off skin was always first eaten after every 

 change, which took place on the 18th and 

 26th of June, and the 3rd and 13th of July, 

 when they had completely stripped the plant. 

 At every change of skin the caterpillars ac- 

 quired more of their brilliant colours, and 

 when full-fed altogether looked very beautiful, 

 and if touched darted forth their retractile 

 horns, scenting the garden very powerfully to 

 some distance. Not being able to get a fresh 

 supply of the food-plant I placed some carrot- 

 leaves in a small jar of water, and introduced 

 them amongst the stalks of the Peucedanum. 

 Contrary to my expectations, the caterpillais 

 fed on the carrot-leaves without any apparent 

 reluctance, and by the end of the month were 

 full-fed. Up to this time, although left in the 

 garden day and night, they never quitted the 

 food, but now it was impossible to keep them 

 on it ; and after one had been finally lost, the 

 others were removed into the breeding cage, 

 where they passed into the chrysalis state on 

 the 30th and 31st of July and the 2nd of 

 August. The first butterfly was produced on 



