tip. They are also destitute of the bristle at the base of the anterior edge of the second pair of wings, which in the moths passes through a loop in the under side of the fore wings, retaining them in their proper position during flight. The wings when at rest are, with a few exceptions, carried erect over the back, their upper surfaces being brought into contact. Their flight is invariably diurnal, and they are always furnished with a proboscis or tongue. The under side of the wings is generally equally ornamented with the upper, and frequently exhibits a different pattern. Their Caterpillars are constantly furnished with 16 feet (6 thoracic, S ventral, and 2 anal.) They are frequently smooth, but are generally armed with sharp branched spines and other appendages. Their chrysalides are almost always naked, attached by the tail and often by a girth of silk round the middle of the body. They are often angular in their form, scarcely ever enclosed in a cocoon, and a few are subterranean. They are variously and sometimes handsomely coloured, and many present those metallic hues from which the terms "Chrysalis" (chrusos gold,) and "Aurelia" (aureus, golden) take their orgin. The word "Butterfly" is a literal translation of the Saxon word, Buttor-fleoze, and is supposed to be applied because the insects first became prevalent at the beginning of the season for butter. Butterflies are the most generally and familiarly known of all the insect tribes; and by their conspicuous appearance, and splendid colours, seldom fail to attract the notice even of those whose perceptions are least alive to the beauty of natural objects. The species are very numerous; between 2000 and 3000 have been described, and it is probable a very considerable number remain undiscovered. In the larva state they feed on a great variety of plants, from the towering oak of the forest to the humble cabbage of our gardens; but, in their perfect form, they derive their sustenance entirely from the nectareous juices of flowers and fruits. It is worthy of remark, that most of the principal groups are characterized by the prevalence of particular hues; thus, the greater portion of the genus Pieris is white; Colias, various shades of yellow; Argynnis, almost invariably fulvous or reddish brown; the Lycana, are mostly fulgid copper colour; and the Polyommati, are either blue or brown. The Diurnal Lepidoptera are divisible into the six following families, all of which are represented in North America :— 1. Papilionidæ, 2. Heliconidæ, 3. Nymphalidæ, 4. Erycinidæ, 5. Lycænida, The last family differs from ail the others in the habit of the caterpillars rolling up leaves, within which they undergo their transformations. This family consists of some of the most gigantic species of Butterflies, distinguished by the perfecily ambulatory structure of all the six legs, the anterior pair not being more or less rudimental; the hind t biæ have only a single pair of spurs at the tip; the tarsal ungues or claws are distinct and exposed, single or bifid; the antennæ are never hooked at the tip, the club being distinct, but variable in form; the palpi are variable, but the third joint is never suddenly slenderer than the rest and naked; the discoidal or central cell of the hind wings is always closed b hid by a nervure; the ablomen's short, slender, and of en la erally compre sed; the proboscis short, or moderately long. The CaterpilLats are elongate 1, nearly cylindrical, but ar frequently thickened or shortened, and are either smooth or pubescent, rarely spinous; the Chrysalides are attache, not only by the ordinary anal nooks, but also by a girth round the middle of the body. In one genus (Parnassius) it is, however, inclosed in a rough cocoon. Almost all the Bit erflies of this family are powerful fliers, and it frequently requires a good chase to capture specimens of some of the species. This umerous family is divided into two very distinct sub-families-Papilionidi and Pie.idi-both of which are well represented in this country. Anal edge of the hind wings concave, or cut out to receive the abdomen; the anterior tibiæ have a spur in the middle; the tarsal ungues or claws are simple; they are furnished with very powerful muscles at the base of the wings, which are very large and their flight rapid. The Caterpillars are slow, cylindrical, thickened, and never villose or hairy, but a few are armed with spines. They are always furnished with two fleshy retractile tentacles in the form of a Y, issuing from a common tubercle, upon the back of the segment succeeding the head, which the insect throws out when al rmed, emitting at the same time an acrid liquid with a cisagreeable odour. This curious organ is supposed to be intended s a weapon of defence against Ichneumons and other parasites, to the attacks of which they are very subject. From the beauty of their colours, the insects of this sub-family were styled by Linnæus, in his fancitul arrangement of the Butterflies, Equites or Knights, and were divided no wo sections; those with black wings, and spotted with red on the breast, forming the first group, Equites Troes or Trojan Knights; and those which are destitute of these markings, but are ornamented with an ocelated spt on the anal ang'e of the hind wings, constituted the second, Equites Achivi or Greek Knights. In modern arrangements it is formed of s veral genera, of which only the typi cal one, Papilio, occurs in North America. Antennæ rather long, with a moderately large oval and gra dua ly formed c'ub, which is somewhat curved and i et compressed; Pal i ve y shot, not p oj eting beyond the head, all the joints very indistinct, and the third or terminal one very minute and hardly visible; tongue long; eyes large and nakel; abdomen rather short and ovate conical; wings strong and elongate, more or less toothed at the edges, the posterior pair being often produced into a long point or tail, from whence they have obtained the name of "Swallow-tailed Butterflies," and having the inner margin folded upwards so as to allow of the free motion of the abdomen; the strong central nerve of the fore wings emits four branches behind, and the middle cell of the hind wings is closed and emits six nerves. The first pair of legs are alike in both sexes-the two fore legs being fitted, as we'l as the four hind ones, for walking; the anterior tibæ have a sing e strong spur at the middle, the four posterior tib'æ have two long spurs at the tip of ach. The anal valves of the male, of mo 'erate size. Larvæ naked, never pubescent, and furnished on the neck with a fleshy furcate tentacle, which they are able to retract or exse t at will. In a very large number the two first segments are attenuated and cp ble of being drawn in under the third and fourth, which are swollen, and often ornamented with oc ilar spots. The Chrysalides are attached by the tail, and girt round the middle by a silken thread, with the head pointing upwards, and forked or b mucronate. This genus is extremely numerous-Boisduval having described 224 se i s, ex lusive of several which he has detached under other generic names. They are mostly of large size, and a e found in almost every quarter of the globe. They are more nu merous in the new world than in the old, but the difference is by no means considerable. In the former, Brazil alone produces between forty and fifty species; and in the latter, the greatest number occur in the islands of the Indian Archipelago, which is also the natural country of the magnificent Ornithoptera, (another genus of the Papilionidæ.) The continental parts of India, China, Java, &c., likewise possess many fine species, and a few are found in New Holland. Europe is exceedingly poor in insects of this group-only three or four species being indigenous, of which but one is found in England. Boisduval describes twelve species as inhabiting North America. They all have the hinder wings tailed, excepting P. Polydamas. Only two species, we believe, occur in the Canadas, viz., P. Asterias and P. Turnus. We are not aware that P. Troilus, Glaucus, Calchas, or Philenor inhabit any of these Provinces, though it is not unlikely that the first at least occurs in some of the more southern portions, as it is included in lists of insects inhabiting Massachusetts. Our two species are very readily distinguished from each other, not only in the Imago, but also in the Larva, as they are of a different shape, as well as ornamented in a very different manner. SPECIES I-PAPILIO ASTERIAS. BLACK SWALLOW-TALLED Clerck Icones, t. xxxiii, fig. 3, 4; Holmiæ, 1757-1762. P. Asterias, Fabricius, Entom. Syst. Em., t. iii., pars 1, p. 6, n. 16, Holmiæ, 1792-1794; Mant. Insect. t. ii., p. 2, n. 13, Hafniæ, 1787. P. Asterias, Godart, Encyclop. Ins. t. ix., pars. 1, p. 58, n. 91, Paris, 1819-1821. P. Asterias, Boisduval and Leconte, Ico., &c., des Lepidopterès, &c., de l'Amerique Sept. t. 1, p. 14, pl. 4, fig. 1-4, Paris, 1833. P. Asterias, Turton's Linné, p. 8, vol. iii., London, 1806. P. Asterias, Emmon's Agri. New York. Insects, p. 200, Albany, 1854. P. Asterius, Cramer, Pap. xxxiii., p. 194, pl. ccclxxxv., fig. c. d., Utrecht, 1782. P. Troilus, Smith and Abbot, the Nat. Hist. of the rarer Lepid. Ins. of Georgia, vol. i., p. 1, tab. i., London, 1798. DRURY INSECT 1, tab. ii., fig. 2. London, 1770-1775, Male.-Wings denticulated, black, with two spotted bands of a pale yellow; the first, placed a little beyond the middle of the anterior wings, is composed on the latter of eight more or less triangular spots; it then traverses the middle of the posterior wings, where it is only interrupted by the nervures, which are very strong and distinct; the second, entirely marginal, is composed of spots more interrupted and smaller than in the preceding; upon the fore wings it is formed of eight or nine spots, and on the hind wings, by six, mostly lunules. Besides the two bands already mentioned, there are two large yellowish dots before the first band on the anterior wings; and upon the posterior wings, between the yellow bands, six or seven blue lunules, of which the upper ones are less determined; and lastly, at the anal angle a rufous spot, marked in the middle by a black dot. The notches of the wings are bordered with yellowish, and the tails are black and rather short. The under side of the fore wings is paler than the upper, but presents precisely the same markings; the first band, however, is of a pale fulvous instead of being yellow, with the exception of the two or three first triangular spots, which are frequently of the same tint as on the upper side. The under side of the hind wings is much like the upper, as to the design, but the two bands are of a reddish orange, with the exception of the two last spots, which are yellowish like the upper side. The body is black, with three series of yellow spots on the sides; two small dots on the |