220 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Feb., 1889. 



had a curious experience with this fly, which I think worthy of mention : In 

 May, 1879, I noticed a female laying eggs in a fennel patch, and following her, 

 gathered quite a number of eggs, which in due time became pupse : the greater 

 number entered the imago state on the 26th day of May, 1879, having been 

 eleven days in the pupa state ; but four of the pupse remained all through that 

 Summer, the following Autumn and Winter, and in the latter part May, 1880, 

 came forth as perfect images, and normal in every respect, having remained 

 about a year in the chrysahs state. 1 bred no more of this fly in quantities 

 until the Spring of 1888, when I obtained a number of the larvae, they all went 

 into the pupa state, and in the proper course of time most of them came forth 

 as images, but seven of theii- number are stiU in my breeding cage, apparently 

 healthy pupse, aud I have no doubt that this Spring they wiU become butter- 

 flies.* 



This seems, without a doubt, a provision of Nature, that should all of the 

 imagos of one brood be destroyed in a season, there would be left some to pro- 

 pagate the species the ensuing season. The questions that this offers for con- 

 sideration are, has a like occurrence ever been noticed with any other butterfly ? 

 and if not, is aster ias subject to any dangers in the imago state from which 

 other flies are exempt ? 



Papilio troilus, Linn. 



I can lay no claim to this species as a citizen, though it is common enough 

 in the country around, and I have found its larvse upon sassafras bushes in the 

 Magnolia Cemetery in May, and seen the fly in the same place. The larvae of 

 this species and that of P. poiamedes bear a strong resemblance to each other. 

 "In some examples of the male fly from Asheville, N. C, in my collection, the 

 tails of the posterior wings contain two green parallel lines. Such examples 

 seem more highly colored, also, than the ordinary run. I have never observed 

 this in Northern examples and believe it to be peculiar to Southern forms. 



Papilio palamedes, Drury. 



Every season a few of this species may be found in the City. I have seen 

 them an our coast islands quite commonly, and think that there the larvae may 

 feed upon the myrtle. In Clarendon County, where palamedes is rather com- 

 mon, it may be seen flying through the forests or hovering around moist places 

 in roads. The flight is very similar to that of crespliontes, though not quite so 

 floating, and is seldom elevated more than four or five feet from the ground 

 when in the woods. It is not as easy to capture when on the wing as appear- 

 ances would make one believe. When drinking at pools it is more readily taken. 

 I have found the larvae on a species of swamp bay with dark, narrow leaves, 

 (not M. glauca,) and have seen the females hovering about the same tree. 



* Since writing tlie above, one of these pupae has, on the sd of April, 1SS9, dis- 

 , charged its occupant, a female very handsomely colored, though much below the aver- 

 age In size. 



