50 II AUSTELL ATA. LEPIDOPl'EKA. 



In form this geiiiis much resembles the last described ; the an- 

 terior wings being exactlj^ siniilar in shape, and the posterior dif- 

 fering- but a trifle : the chief distinctions are to be found in the 

 structure of the club of the antennae and palpi, the former being 

 much thickened and elongated, and the. latter more slender, as well 

 as slightly dissimilar in form ; and in their natural state the tips are 

 more closely applied to each other : the larva and pupa are, how- 

 ever, widely different, as are also the habits of the perfect insect. 



Sp. 1. Iris. AHsnifffis cwrideo-micantibus, aid fuse is, fascia commmd idrinqiie 

 albd intei midu, posticis supru uiiioceUatis. (Exp. alar. 2 unc. 6 lin.— 3 unc. 

 3 lin.) 



Pa. Iris. Liniie. — Lewiii,pl. 16. — Ap. Iris. Sleph. Cat'd. 



Male with the wings above black, changing according to the light to a splendid 

 mazarine blue : the anterior with ten white spots, disposed in a triple series, 

 the first towards the inner margin, composed of three spots, the central one 

 being lunate ; the second series reaches from beyond the middle of the costa 

 to the anal angle, and is composed of five spots, of which the three towards 

 the costa are united and form a crescent, pointing inwards ; the other series 

 is composed of two small spots, of which the posterior is minute : the posterior 

 wmgs have a white angular band, placed in continuity with the first series of 

 spots on the anterior wings ; and an ocellus at the anal angle with a narrow 

 tawny iris, and black pupil ; parallel with the hinder margin is a pale tawny 

 streak : beneath, the anterior wings are variegated with brown, tawny, black 

 and white, the latter colour corresponding with that of the upper surface, 

 and the posterior margin is cinereous ; between the disc and the hinder mar- 

 gin is an ocellus with a black iris and a bluish pupil : the posterior wings 

 have an oblique broad white band, attenuated towards the inner margin, and 

 with a conical tooth in the centre of its external edge ; this band is bordered 

 on each side with reddish brown, shaded into cinereous at the base and 

 hinder margin : near the anal angle is a small ocellus, corresponding in colour 

 with the one on the upper surface : the body is black above, cinereous be- 

 neath ; the legs are of the latter colour, and the antennce black. The female 

 differs in being considerably larger, and in having the upper surface of the 

 wings brown where the male is black, and is destitute of the brilliant blue 

 reflection of the male : there are two additional minute white spots at the 

 tip of the anterior wings. 



1 he caterpillar is of a beautiful green, with reddish bristles at the tail, and 

 greenish-yellow horns : it feeds on the sallow : the chrysalis is of a delicate 

 pale green. 



This splendid insect justly claims the chief attention of the col- 

 lectors of indigenous Lepidoptera, " the varying lustres of its pur- 

 ple plumes" giving it a proud pre-eminence above its fellows. 

 Like several other butterflies, it has become unfrequent near the 



