OF LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. 99 



all continued to pursue their course, in a low and 

 equal manner. What renders this fact the more 

 singular is, that from the moment the caterpillars of 

 this species are hatched, they lead a solitary life ; 

 and even in their perfect, or imago condition, they 

 are not observed to be gregarious. 



Professor Bonelli of Turin, however, observed a 

 similar flight of the same species of butterflies, in 

 the end of the March preceding their appearance 

 at Grandson. Their flight was directed from south 

 to north ; and their numbers were immense. At 

 night, the flowers were literally covered with them. 

 Towards the 29th of March, their numbers diminished : 

 but even in June a few still continued. They have 

 been traced from Coni, Raconni, Lusa, &c. A similar 

 flight of butterflies is recorded at the end of last 

 century, by M. Louch, in the Memoirs of the Academy 

 of Turin. During the whole season, these butterflies, 

 as well as their larvae, were very abundant, and more 

 beautiful than usual. 



Among the lame of butterflies which associate 

 may be particularly mentioned that of the Papilio 

 clnxia. This animal may be found on the leaves of 

 the narrow-leaved plantain, on which it feeds. They 

 usually associate in families, amounting to about one 

 hundred in each. By their united labour, they weave 

 a silken tent of a pyramidal form. This contains a 

 variety of apartments, is always pitched over the 

 plants on which they feed, and answers the double 

 purpose of sheltering them from the heat of the sun, 

 and from heavy showers of rain, neither of which is 





