A PICTUKESQUE HEAD-DKESS. 



545 



One fine species of the Ornithoptera inhabits Darnley Island, 

 and is put to a singular use by the natives. They catch several 

 Butterflies, and, attaching one end of a very delicate fibre to the 

 insects and the other to their hair, allow the Butterflies to flutter 

 about their heads. The name of the insect is Papilio Poseidon, 

 and it is a most magnificent creature, measuring seven inches 

 across, and having velvet-black and brilliant green wings, a 

 golden body, and crimson breast. The Ornithoptera are mostly 

 confined to the islands of the Indian Archipelago, the Moluccas 

 and Philippines being their principal strongholds. 



About the two insects which will now be described there has 

 been some difficulty. Some entomologists consider them as two 

 distinct species, and others as merely varieties of a single species. 

 The controversy is not yet decided, and I shall therefore accept 



Fig 295.— Papilio patros. 

 (Black and red.) 



that opinion which is at present more generally acknowledged. 

 The insect is found at Ega, and is one of the many species which 

 were brought home by Mr. Bates after his travels in the region 

 of the Amazons. On the upper surface the wings are dark, 

 blackish brown at the base, becoming paler towards the tip. 

 The lower pair are velvet black, relieved by three large oblong 



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