MAY. 119 



way, formed of sand. In the interior, the female buries 

 eight or ten caterpillars, similar in species and size, arrang- 

 ing them in a spiral direction ; an egg is then deposited in 

 the middle, and the mouth closed. The young Wasp, when 

 hatched, devours the caterpillars, which are just sufficient 

 for its support ; then assumes the pupa state, in a cocoon 

 of slender texture ; and at length, becoming a perfect in- 

 sect, flies away. 



There are about twenty British species of this genus, but 

 the specific characters are liable to considerable variation, 

 which renders them difficult to investigate. 



LEPIDOPTERA. PAPILIONID^B. 



PAPILIO. 



Generic Distinctions. Antenna rather long, with a slightly 

 curved club ; palpi short, third joint minute ; legs all formed for 

 walking; hinder wings scolloped, with a long narrow projection 

 like a tail, and grooved to receive the body ; caterpillars smooth 

 and naked; chrysalis angular, and fixed by a band round the 

 middle. 



PAPILIO MACHAON. (Plate V.) Swallow-tail This most 

 beautiful insect is the largest of our Butterflies, the female 



