182 MR. W. S. MACLEAY ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF URANIA. 
The feet are blackish, with tne edges of the femora and tibie more or less tipped with 
bluish green. The antenne agree in figure and colour with those of Ur. Sloanus. 
It is therefore evident that my insect differs from Godart’s description of Ur. Sloanus 
only in the larger size, in having more transverse golden green lines on the upper! 
wings, in the under wings having no coppery red colour, and in the discal band of these 
last not being serrated. 
From Ur. Boisduvalii, which I only know by M. Guérin’s figure, my insect differs also 
in being of larger size, in having the tergum of the abdomen with longitudinal green 
bands, and in the seventh bifid line of the upper side of the upper wings not meeting 
the sixth line at the anal angle. The under wings, and the whole under side of the 
wings, are wholly different. 
For the present, therefore, and deprived as I am of the power of referring to any 
cabinet, I think I am to a certain degree justified in considering the insect I have so 
fully described under the name of Urania Fernandine to be a distinct species, and I shall 
now give its economy. 
On approaching from the sea any open sandy part of the coast of Cuba, it will ap- 
pear girt, close above the coral reefs, with a copse wood composed of almost one species 
of tree. This is the Coccoloba uvifera of Linnzus, or Uvero? of the Spaniards, which 
instantly attracts a European eye by the novelty of its aspect, the large thick leaves 
being almost orbicular, or, to speak more accurately, shaped somewhat like a horse- 
shoe, while their shining green is beautifully relieved by blood-red veins. This tree 
produces an astringent fruit called, from its colour and growing in racemes, the sea- 
side Grape; and a close and nearly impenetrable belt of it, which is merely varied by 
a few Chrysobalani?, almost touches high-water mark. At the base of this belt grow 
the genera Cactus, Euphorbia, Heliotropium, Tribulus, Coreopsis, Pancratium, Crinum, &c.; 
the leaves of these various genera becoming more thick and fleshy as they approximate 
the sea. Convolvuli with succulent leaves and with large red‘ and white® flowers, 
creep around on the sand, mingling themselves with the Dolichos roseus of Swartz®, so 
conspicuous for its immense pods and lovely pale purple blossom. 
' However, in Ur. Fernandine we find the size to vary considerably, as also the number of transverse golden 
green lines on the upper wings. 
2 Oviedo, in his admirable ‘ Coronica de las Indias,’ describes this tree under the Indian name of Guiabara, 
and gives eyen a good figure of one of the leaves, which, he says, being written on with a pin or needle, often 
served the first Spanish settlers instead of paper. The leaf of the Copey (Clusia rosea, Linn.), another sea-side 
tree, serves this purpose still better, as it will preserve the writing for years. 
3 Chrysobalanus Icaco, Linn., from the fruit of which, or sea-side Plum, a favourite sweetmeat is made in 
Cuba, and exported under the name of ‘ Dulce de Icaco.’ The fruit itself is insipid, but the kernel has an ex- 
quisite flavour. 
* Convolvulus Brasiliensis, Linn., or the Aguinaldo de la playa of the Spaniards. 
5’ Convolvulus repens, Jacq. 6 Canavalia rosea, De Cand. 
