498 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



perfect stages differ in such important particulars as to call for their separation ; and 

 to unite in one g'enns the Ornithoptera., having larvte bearing long, fleshy spines, and 

 which are suspended in chr3'salis by the tail as well as supported by the central girth, 

 with the smooth larvna and long-tailed imagines of our F. turnus, P. ojax, etc., is at 

 least contrary to the practice which prevails with reference to other groups. 



One of the grandest species, as far as its size is concerned, is P. antimachus, a native 

 of the west coast of Africa, where it flies in the hottest sunshine, thus probably often 

 escaping capture, as few Europeans can bear the terrible heat of the middle of the day 

 in the region it inhabits. At jiresent it is an exceedingly rare insect, only about 

 fifteen specimens being known to exist in collections, the first example having been 

 brought to England near the close of the last century and sold to Mr. Francillon for a 

 very high price, passing at his death into the hands of the Honorable Alexander 

 Macleay of Sydney, for the sum, it is said, of £150. This specimen (the typo) is now 

 in the magnificent collection of the present distinguished entomologist Mr. William 



Fig. C25. — Papillo tm-nus. 



Macleay. It is about eight inclics in expanse, rich brown in color, streaked and 

 otherwise marked with black, being by no means as handsome and attractive as many 

 of its congeners. 



The species of Papilio inhabiting this country are mostly furnished with lono- tails 

 those which are the most common being known as P. turn us, P. ti'oilus, and P. asterias 

 these being found nearly throughout the country east of the Rocky Mountains. On the 

 western slope they give place to other forms, P. riitidus and P. eurymedon taking the 

 place of P. turnus and P iiulra, and P. zolicnoii that of P. ((sterias. The caterpillars 

 feed on a variety of plants — turnus and allies on cherrj-, sassafras, willow, etc., while 

 asterias and its relatives i)refer those of the natural order Umbellifei-aj. They are 

 mostly shades of green, with various markings of black and yellow, with spectacle- 

 like marks on the third and fourth segments, and with the retractile horns bright 

 orange. In the southern states P jxdamedes is abundant, the caterpillar doing occa- 

 sional mischief to the young orange trees; and another species, P. 2^0/ydamas, whose 

 home is apparently the West Indies and Mexico, is found, though rarely, in Florida. 



