BUTTERFLIES OF MESOPOTAMIA, 69 
the back of a camp chair, matching exactly the colour of the Willesden-canvas 
to which it was attached. A day or so before the writer had noticed on leaning 
back in the chair the strong smell usually emitted by a machaon larva on being 
disturbed, but, on looking for it, did not see it then ; a third pupated on a wood- 
en box, here again matching the colour of the wood ; while the fourth, on the 
camp-bed being set up again, after having been folded up in its case and moved 
with other kit on a cart from the last camp, was found attached undamaged 
to the iron cross-piece of the bed. 
Circumstances prevented the completion of experiments with A. majus and 
A. visnaga, and the larve on these had to be liberated. The emergence from the 
pupa and wonderful, rapid, expansion of its wings was an ever-fascinating 
process to watch. It took place often about 5 a.m. (in June) and emergence 
was so rapid that one rarely witnessed the formation of the first crack in the 
pupa-case. 
A small black parasitic fly infests this species, scores of its pupe being found 
in each of several pup found in the open attached to plants, whereas very 
few pupz reared from larve taken nearly fully grown were thus infested. 
One pupa was found on the stem of A. majus about three feet above the ground ; 
another on the stem of a yellow composite flower scented like lavender. 
To capture the free butterfly the net should be dropped over it as it is settled 
or hovering, the tail of the net being held up, as a side sweep is very apt to 
damage the wings or tails, especially among the sharp-spined yellow thistles 
so attractive to butterflies, Like all swallow-tails it is very apt to damage 
itself in the net if not quickly killed. 
machaon was often to be found in the spring at the top of stony hill-crests 
and, when first put up, usually cruised around for a _ bit but settled eventually 
at a flower or on the bare ground in the sunshine at the highest spot, to be 
secured by dropping the net over it after a cautious approach. As mentioned 
before, it is often found associated with Melitea didyma and a Synchle belemia 
or Luchle on the hill tops—Melitea settled on the ground and Synchle merely 
hurrying past. In May itis remarkably common on the banks of the Dyala and 
many may be taken in a short time especially between 9 and 10 in the morning. 
But the best specimens are of course obtained by rearing from the larve, the 
largest larvee being taken to ensure early pupation. On the banks of the Dyala 
at the end of May many of these butterflies are worn and bleached. 
Localities :—Kut-el-Amara : Kotamiyeh forest near Azizieh (Major Broughton) ; 
Baghdad and Mosul (Lt.-Col. Watney); Kizil Robat by the Dyala, Baiji and 
up to 6,000 feet at Karind in N. W. Persia. 
The following notes regarding larve and periods of pupal stage may be of 
interest. Many more larve pupated and emergence duly took place, but 
date of pupation was not always noted. 
Larvee were common on April 15th, and one was found on June 23rd. 
The dates of pupation and emergence were noted in the following instances :— 
Pupated. Emerged. Period in days. Sex. 
April 18 April 28 10 3 
g al May 1 10 2 
2? 22 ”? 2 10 fo} 
eae eo 12 2 
9 23 ” 5 12 3d 
ae oe - 6 12 2 
” 24 2” 8 14 3 
Pen 45, ; 9 14 ce) 
Pras oe 13 2 
May 22 wy ak - 2 
3 ave une. 1 10 3 
Po ees = 6 10 2 
