PAPILIONIDiE. 
351 
nearly round than in Papilio asterias. There are also several other 
well-marked characteristics by which the insects may be separated. 
Larva of Papilio troilus. 
The female deposits her eggs singly on the leaves of the spice 
bush and sassafras, and the young larva is no sooner out of the egg 
than it begins to prepare a habitation for itself where it shall be safe 
from the prying eyes of the insect-eating birds, This is constructed 
in the following manner. Selecting a suitable leaf of its food plant, 
the larva commences to spin a fine web backward and forward across 
the middle portion of the leaf. As this web is stretched tightly, the 
Chrysalis of Papilio troilus. 
sides of the leaf soon begin to fold over and as the Aveb is added to, 
they finally come together over the back of the insect, entirely shield¬ 
ing it from sight. Unlike some of the larvse of other butterflies, 
which no sooner complete a home than they make their first meal 
off the leaves which compose it, this insect rarel} r or never nibbles 
its habitation, but keeps it in the perfection of good order and neat¬ 
ness. It rarely ventures forth during the daytime, but remains 
quietly resting upon its silken cot and at evening cautiously crawls 
out to feed upon the surrounding foliage. As the larva grows the 
