Part 22

PLATE XXVII. Figs. 3, 4.

Hisperia R. Achæus, Fabr.--Pap. Achæus, Cramer, Pl. 352, fig. G, H.--Herbst. Pap. Pl. 297, figs. 3, 4.

Nearly the same size as P. Venus, and also a native of Surinam. Upper side dark brown, the superior wings with two oval yellow spots on the disk of each, and two transverse curved streaks of the same colour on the inferior, the anal angle with a ferruginous spot. Under side yellow, with numerous ferruginous patches, each of which is ornamented with several small spots of golden-yellow, the outer border with a continuous ferruginous band bearing a series of golden-yellow elongated spots. Body brown above and yellowish beneath.

GENUS THALIURA.

The genus to which we have assigned the above name has been hitherto blended with the Uraniæ. It is doubtless very closely connected with these insects; but the differences both in the appearance of the perfect insects and the respective caterpillars, render it expedient that they should be separated. The character by which it and Urania are widely separated from all others, is the form of the antennæ, which are filiform nearly to the middle, where they thicken a little, and from that gradually narrow to a point. The palpi are lengthened and slender, having the second joint greatly compressed, the terminal one more slender, nearly cylindrical, and naked. There is no closed discoidal cell in any of the wings, and almost all the nervures diverge from the base. Not many different kinds are known, and, with one exception, they are natives of America and the West Indian Islands. Their splendid tints of golden green arranged in transverse bars, render them perhaps the most chastely beautiful insects that exist, and has caused them to be named Emerald Butterflies in this country. Sometimes also they are called Pages. They fly so high in the air and with so much velocity, that it is nearly impossible, Madam Merian informs us, to catch them, and the only way therefore to obtain good specimens, is to feed the caterpillar. “Great numbers of this insect,” says Mr. Swainson, speaking of a species almost the exact counterpart of U. Leilus, “were flying during the whole of the morning, past Aqua Fria (Pernambuco) in a direction from north to south: not one deviated from this course, notwithstanding the flowers which were growing around: they flew against the wind, which blew rather strong, and near the ground, but mounted over every tree or other high object which lay in their course; yet their flight was so rapid, that I could not capture a single specimen. They went singly, and near fifty or sixty must have passed the spot opposite the window before mid-day: they continued to pass for three or four days in this manner. 12th June 1817.”

The present genus differs from Urania in the perfect insect having three distinct tails at the hinder extremity of the posterior wings; neither are these wings so much elongated as in the group just named. The differences between them in their early states will be seen by comparing the following descriptions.

PLATE 28.

Lizars sc.

Thaliura Rhipheus. Madagascar.]

THALIURA RHIPHEUS.

PLATE XXVIII.

Pap. E. A. Rhipheus, Fabr.--Pap. Rhipheus, Cramer, Pl. 385, fig. A, B.--Boisduval, Nouvel. Annal. du Museum d’His. Nat. p. 260, Pl. 8, fig. 1, 2.

This magnificent species is usually about the size of Papilio Machaon, but sometimes it is a good deal larger. The surface is a deep, velvet-black; the upper wings with numerous transverse lines and stripes of beautiful golden-green, and a broad band of the same colour near the middle deeply cleft anteriorly: this band is likewise continued across the under wings in the direction of the anal angle, but a large space on the latter is brilliant coppery-red with a violet reflection, and marked with four or five black spots; besides this there is another green band near the external margin, the outer edge as well as the tails fringed with hairs: the tails are three in number, that most remote from the anal angle longer than the others. On the under side of the superior wings the green bands are dilated so as to occupy greater part of the surface; the same side of the inferior pair is gilded green at the base and extremity; the whole anal region bright flame colour inclining to purple, with a changeable lustre, prolonged to the anterior margin and forming a central band, the whole surface marked with orbicular black spots, which become larger posteriorly. Body black, fulvous beneath: antennæ wholly black.

The female is about one-third larger than the male, the anal mark larger and of a golden colour with little mixture of purple.

“This species,” says M. Boisduval, who first completed the natural history of this insect by describing its various states and metamorphoses, “which may be considered as the most beautiful lepidopteron known, inhabits Madagascar. It has been once taken in Bourbon, whither the caterpillar had probably been transported accidentally. According to Cramer it is likewise found on the coast of Coromandel.

“The caterpillar lives on the Mangifera Indica. On first issuing from the egg, it is nearly smooth and of a greenish tint; after the first moult it assumes a black colour, becomes covered with spines, and protrudes at pleasure two rose-coloured retractile horns, placed on the first segment. Having attained its full size it is rather slender, dilated laterally towards the middle, and is about two or three inches long. On each side there is a festoon composed of many irregular bands of white, green, and yellow points: the horns, which were of a delicate rose-colour, become carmine-red; the first pair of membraneous legs becomes very short, almost rudimentary, and are of no use in walking; when in motion, therefore, it curves the centre of its body upwards into a loop like the caterpillars of Geometra and Catocala. Before undergoing its metamorphoses, it attaches itself by the tail and a band round the middle, like the caterpillars of Papilio, Colias, Pieris, &c., or rather like those of Geometra pendularia and Gyraria.

“The chrysalis is elongated and pointed, scarcely angular, of a green colour with a transverse gilded band; the extremity, which is of a deeper green, is sprinkled with a great number of golden points.

“The perfect insect comes out in about three weeks. Exposed to the sun, it developes itself completely in two or three hours, while individuals born in the shade take nearly a day to develope themselves, and are usually less brilliant.”

GENUS URANIA.

As already mentioned, Urania is distinguished from all other groups, except Thaliura, by the shape of the antennæ, and an obvious character for separating it from that is the presence of only a single tail. The palpi are short and project a little beyond the head, the terminal joint being nearly naked. The tibiæ of the anterior legs are furnished with spines in the middle; and the claws are minute. When at rest the anterior wings are kept in a horizontal position, or but slightly turned upwards, one peculiarity among many others in which they resemble the nocturnal lepidoptera. We are indebted to Mr. Macleay for an account of the metamorphoses of a species which he has named U. Fernandinæ, but which is probably synonymous with some previously known. The caterpillar feeds on a kind of Omphalea which grows abundantly on the sea-coast of Jamaica. It never appears during the heat of the day, but reposes in a torpid state within a thin transparent web on the under side of the leaves, in order to avoid the rays of the sun. Its only time of feeding is during the night. In its appearance and habits it shows more affinity to the larvæ of the Bombycidæ than to the diurnal Lepidoptera. When about to change to a chrysalis it spins an oval cocoon of yellow silk, the meshes of which are so lax as to allow the inmate to be easily seen. The pupa is not at all angular. “The perfect butterfly,” he adds, “is perfectly diurnal, and very swift in its flight. It is not found in the interior of the island, but it may be seen in plenty as far as two or even three leagues from the coast, sporting in the sun, and sucking the flowers of Cestrum diurnum, Ehretia tinifolia, and other odoriferous trees of small stature. In hot weather and about mid-day it flies particularly high, and may be even observed surmounting the tops of the highest members of the forest. In the afternoon I have often seen it sport about some capriciously chosen spot, such as a particular branch of Mango, where it would always return to alight on almost the same leaf, in a manner that has sometimes reminded me of a well known habit of the Musicapæ. Thus does our insect spend whole hours until sunset, when the bats usually terminate its diversion and its life. On the approach of winter it may be seen at times alighting on hedges, when specimens are more easily captured. The flight, however, of U. Fernandinæ is always strong, and it starts like the Fringillidæ. When it alights on a leaf, all the four wings are expanded horizontally; and rarely, if ever, take a vertical position, like those of the species of the Linnæan genus Papilio, when at rest.”

URANIA SLOANUS.

PLATE XXIX. Fig. 1.

Godart.--Pap. Sloanus, Cramer, Pl. 85, fig. E, F.--Pap. Leilius, Var. Fabr.--Leilius Occidentalis, Swainson, Illus. Pl. 129.

Expands about two inches and a half or three inches; surface deep black; the upper wings each with six or seven transverse lines of golden green, and near the middle a band of that colour bifid (sometimes trifid) anteriorly. Under wings with a central band of bright coppery red, irregularly indented, the abdominal margin more or less gilded green; the tail black with a few emerald green spots. Design on the under side corresponding to that on the surface, the green paler. Body black above, with a dorsal line of golden green, and another on each side; brownish beneath.

This handsome species bears the name of the celebrated Sir Hans Sloane, the early historian of Jamaica, who figured it in his work (Pl. 239, fig. 11, 12). It is accounted a rare insect, and, we believe, has hitherto been found only in the West Indian Islands.

PLATE 29.

1. Urania Sloanus. 2. Urania Leilus. W. Indies. Surinam.

Lizars sc.]