THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 143 



inches, are of a delicate light green color, and the hinder ones are each 

 prolonged into a tail of an inch and a half or more in length, longer, 

 indeed, than those of the day-flying Papilios. Along the front edge of 

 the fore wings is a broad purple-brown stripe, extending also across the 

 thorax, and sending backwards a little branch to a glittering, eye-like 

 spot near the middle of the wing. These eyes (of which there is one on 

 each of the wings) are transparent in the centre, and encircled by 

 rings of white, yellow, blue and black. The hinder borders are more or 

 less edged with purple brown. All the nervures are very distinct and 

 pale brown. Near the body the wings are densely covered with hairs. 

 The under sides are similar to the upper, except that an indistinct 

 undulating line runs along the margin of both wings. 



As for the body that bears these lovely appendages, the thorax is 

 white, sometimes yellowish or greenish, crossed by the purple-brown stripe 

 that traverses the whole length of the upper edge of the front wings ; the 

 abdomen is of the same color as the thorax, and covered with white hairs 

 like wool. The head is white and small, and adorned with wide, flat and 

 strongly pectinated antennae of a brownish tinge. The legs are purple- 

 brown. 



Such is Luna in her various transformations to outward appearance ; 

 notwithstanding her size and loveliness, her habits and peculiar instincts 

 are not very noteworthy. The gift of superior beauty, as among the 

 highest of animals so in the insect world, is not frequently accompanied 

 by remarkable intelligence or superior sense ; and the most gaudy 

 butterfly or moth is a fool in comparison with the dingy-colored bee. 

 The caterpillars of butterflies and moths have some various instincts — 

 chiefly in the direction of silk spinning and sepulchre building— but the 

 perfect insects only live " to increase and multiply their race, and embel- 

 lish nature. Their existence in the perfect state is usually very brief ; it 

 is one of the prettiest of honeymoons, and often love subdues and 

 destroys every other passion. The gourmandizing caterpillar is never 

 troubled by the ardent flame which consumes even the thought of sipping 

 the nectar of the flowers that rival in beauty the wings of the perfect 

 representation of elegance and love. The early insect lives and eats, and 

 the perfect form lives and dies." 



