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Polydamas
Butterfly.--Easily distinguished by the absence of tails on the hind margin of the secondaries. The butterfly recalls the preceding species by the color of the wings on the upper side. On the under side the fore wings are marked as on the upper side; the hind wings have a marginal row of large red spots. Expanse, 3.00-3.50 inches.
Early Stages.--The caterpillar is dark brown, and in many points resembles that of P. philenor in outline, but the segments are spotted with ocellate yellow and red spots. It feeds on various species of Aristolochia. The chrysalis resembles that of P. philenor.
This lovely insect represents in the United States a great group of butterflies closely allied to it, which are natives of the tropics of the New World. It occurs in southern Florida and Texas, and thence ranges southward over Cuba, Mexico, and Central America.
THE CATERPILLAR AND THE ANT
"A pensy Ant, right trig and clean,
Came ae day whidding o'er the green,
Where, to advance her pride, she saw
A Caterpillar, moving slaw.
'Good ev'n t' ye, Mistress Ant,' said he;
'How 's a' at hame? I 'm blyth to s' ye.'
The saucy Ant view'd him wi' scorn,
Nor wad civilities return;
But gecking up her head, quoth she,
'Poor animal ! I pity thee;
Wha scarce can claim to be a creature,
But some experiment o' Nature,
Whase silly shape displeased her eye,
And thus unfinish'd was flung bye.
For me, I 'm made wi' better grace,
Wi' active limbs and lively face;