Another piece of advice is: don't _waste time_ in trying to puzzle out the _meaning_, the why or the wherefore of butterflies' scientific names. Now and then, certainly, they have some allusion to the insect's appearance, or to the plant on which it feeds; thus, for instance, _Gonepteryx Rhamni_, the entomological name of the Brimstone Butterfly, means the "_Angle-winged_ (butterfly) _of the Buckthorn_," and this is very appropriate and descriptive; but in general there is no more connexion between the name and the character of a butterfly, than there is between a ship's name--the "_Furious_," the "_Coquette_," or the "_Pretty Jane_," as it may be--and the moral disposition or personal appearance of the vessel that bears it. Also, don't _waste money_ and encourage dishonesty, by {62} giving the absurdly large prices put upon _British_, or _pretended_ British specimens of butterflies, or other insects that are rare in this country though common on the Continent; when, for all purposes of science, or the pleasure derived from their beauty, _avowed_ Continental specimens, at one-twentieth of the price, will do just as well. In putting these into your cabinet, however, always attach to the pin underneath the insect a label, bearing some mark to denote the specimen's foreign origin. * * * * * {63} CHAPTER VI. THE BRITISH BUTTERFLIES SEPARATELY DESCRIBED. THE SWALLOW-TAILED BUTTERFLY. (_Papilio Machaon._) (Plate III. fig. 1.) There is no possibility of mistaking this noble insect for any other of our native species, after a glance at its portrait. Its superior size, conjoined with the possession of a pair of _long_ tails on the hind wings, would at once mark it distinctly, independently of the peculiar markings and colour. In the colouring of the wings, a broad simplicity prevails, the general ground-tint being a clear creamy yellow, with the bars and marginal bands of the deepest velvety black. The broad bands of black on the front wings are powdered towards the centre with _yellow_ scales, and those on the hind wings with _blue_ scales. The only other colour on this side is a spot of rust-red at the inner angle of the hind wings. The under side is very similar in colouring to the upper, but the black markings are less decided and sharp, and there are several additional rust-red spots on the hind wings. {64} The _caterpillar_, which is a very handsome creature, is found feeding on various umbelliferous plants; among which, its chief favourites in this country appear to be the Wild Carrot (_Daucus Carota_), the Marsh Milk-parsley (_Selinum palustre_), and Fennel (_Anethum Foeniculum_). In colour it is bright green, with velvet-black rings, which are spotted with red. A distinguishing mark of this caterpillar is a reddish-coloured forked appendage just behind its head, which, when the animal is alarmed, gives out a strong-scented fluid, supposed to be for the purpose of alarming some of its enemies.