NOTES ON THE BUTTERFLIES


ground. In the town of Corozal I have seen
many of them settling in the streets after the
water cart used for keeping down the dust had
passed along.
 I have once observed what is known as a
" cloud of these insects ; large numbers of them
passed through the town of Corozal flying in the
direction of the prevailing wind from north-east
to south-west.
 There is a dark variety of this butterfly which
is named Niger. I have never taken a typical
specimen of this form, but some of my captures
approached very closely to it.

17. PAPILIO AUTOCLES (R. and J.).
 This, which is a sub-species of Papilio thoas
(Linn), is a common butterfly throughout the
Colony and is a constant visitor to garden flowers.
I have frequently found the larvae on orange trees,
but its favourite food plant is the rue (Ruta
graveolens). This plant is grown by many house-
holders in Belize, and though it is quite a small
shrub yet I have seen it swarming with the larvae
of this insect in all stages of growth.
 The rue plant is much esteemed by housewives
for the magical effect it is supposed to have when
rubbed over the surface of the body in controlling
convulsions and especially the convulsions of
young children. But the plant is so attractive