348 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
cold and wet weather having a tendency to prolong the period. 
When this is terminated, the skin of the chrysalis bursts open and 
a butterfly issues from it, clings to the empty shell till its crumpled 
and drooping wings have extended to their full dimensions and have 
become dried, upon which it flies away in pursuit of companions and 
food.” 
Papilio asterias. Male. 
Mr. Harris, I think, errs in stating that the larva spins a silken 
girth and then “ gradually works the loop over its back,” as those 
which I have watched during this performance have spun the girdle 
from side to side over the body, bending the head backwards and at¬ 
taching the thread of silk on each side, repeating the operation until 
the loop was sufficiently strong to hold its weight. 
So plentiful are the chrysalides at times that I have taken doz¬ 
ens of them from the underside of the capping board of a fence 
which bounded a neglected field of carrots, where the plants had been 
stripped to mere stalks by the caterpillars. This butterfly is often seen 
in compan} T with other species along country roads, but is not an easy 
species to capture, being rather shy and flying rapidly when alarmed. 
