HOW TO KNOW THE BUTTERFLIES 



The Blue Swallow-tail 



Laertias philenor (La-er'ti-as phi-le'nor) 



Plate XII, Fig. i, 2 



The front wings are lustrous blackish brown ; the hind 

 wings are blackish with green or blue reflections. The fringe 

 on the outer margin of the wings is alternately black and 

 white, the white appearing conspicuous by contrast. Parallel 

 to the outer margin is a row of whitish spots ; these may be 

 very indistinct or wanting on the front wings. Beneath, the 

 spots are more distinct, especially the row on the hind wings, 

 which consists of seven large orange spots. The discal half 

 of the hind wings is very bright by reflected light. Expanse 

 of wings from three and one-half inches to four and one-half 

 inches. 



Caterpillar. — Length nearly two inches. The body is 

 nearly cylindrical and naked. In color it is dark purplish 

 brown, almost black, with a row or two of coral-red dots 

 along each side. On the segments at either end of the body 

 are pairs of brown fleshy filaments prolonged and extended 

 like horns. 



Food-plants. — Dutchman's-pipe, the Virginia snakeroot, 

 black bindweed. 



Once an individual of this species was our com- 

 rade during a June sojourn in Virginia. Dav 

 after day we watched it floating about close to 

 the ground in the open space of the park about 

 the hotel. It visited all the flowers in the beds 

 and spent long periods sunning itself near the 

 piazza, where we were able to observe it close at 



66 



