BRASSOLIS. 



351 



Thorax robust. 



Fore Wings concave, nearly straight or convex on the apical maroin. Postcostal vein with its first and second 

 branches arising before the middle of the wing ; the third and fourth, near together, at about three fourths of 

 the length of the wing. The three disco-cellular veins form a nearly continuous line, from the middle of tlie 

 length of the postcostal vein to the obtuse angle of the third branch of the median vein, which is at a greater 

 distance from the origin of this third branch than exists between the base of the first and second branches. 



Hmd Wwgs broadly ovate. Outer margin entire, rounded, not scalloped. Precostal vein forked ; its anterior 

 branch erect, Avith the tip slightly turned towards the body ; its posterior branch forming a moderate-sized 

 prediscoidal cell, by uniting with the angulated base of the costal vein. Postcostal vein branched at a 

 considerable distance from the base. Discoidal cell closed at some distance beyond the middle of the wing, in 

 an acute angle, formed by the junction of the outer disco-cellular vein with the angle of the third branch of 

 the median vein. Under surface of the hind wings with small ocelli. 



Fore Legs of the males very small, pectoral, and brush-like. Tarsus short, elongate-ovate, entire, and exarticulate. 

 Fore Legs of the female considerably thicker and longer. The tarsus two thirds of the length of the tibia, 

 well articulated ; the joints spined beneath ; terminal joint minute, not furnished with claws. 



Four Llind Legs long, rather slender. Tarsi rather longer than the tibia, very slightly spined beneath ; tibial 

 spurs small. Tarsi very slightly spined, except at the tips of the joints. Claws curved, acute. Paronychia 

 small, scarcely bifid. 



As the tliree species of this genus are represented in PI. LIX., it will be only necessary to observe that the two upper species, B. 

 Astyra and Sophora3, are coloured on the under side nearly as on the ujiper, except that the brown colour is paler, and slightly irrorated 

 on the hind wings; the fore wings have a small black ocellus near the tip, preceded by two minute white angulated spots, and there is 

 a very slender double waved line near the apical margin. The hind wings are marked with a small fulvous spot near the base, and with 

 three small ocelli beyond the middle of the wings, one towards the middle of the costa. U. Macrosiris is much more varied on the 

 under side ; the basal half of the fore wings, and the whole of the hind wings, being fulvous-buff, marked with a vast number of 

 slightly waved contiguous black lines ; the apical half of the fore wings is purplish grey, with two large yellow and black ocelli beyond 

 the middle, preceded by an arched white line ; the middle of the costa of the hind wings is marked with a large oval fulvous-red spot, 

 including two rows of white scales, and there are two minute round fulvous and black spots beyond the middle. This species is unique 

 in the collection of M. Boisduval. 



The transformations of B. Sophorce are given by Madame Merian and StoU, the latter author having evidently made his drawing 

 from a specimen about to change to a chrysalis as Madame Merian's figure represents the caterpillar considerably more elongated, but in 

 other respects agreeing with Stoll's drawing. The figures of the chrysalis given by these authors are also similar. The Caterpillar is 

 of a clear brown colour, with blackish longitudinal lines ; the fore legs and head are black, tlie latter marked with a yellowish transverse 

 streak. It lives in societies of considerable numbers in a close web which it spins, from which it comes forth only during the night to 

 eat. It is stated by most authors to feed on the Sophora; but according to StoU and ]\Ierian it feeds on the Cocouer and Cacaoyer. 

 Its change to the chrysalis state takes place at the beginning of April, and the perfect insect appears in fifteen days afterwards. The 

 chrysalis is of a pale colour, spotted with dark red, and marked with four silvery spots ; the cast skin of the caterpillar is attached to the 

 extremity of the body of the chrysalis. The Perfect Insect flies very swiftly, and appears only early and late in the day. 



BRASSOLIS. 



Bras. Sopiiorx. 



Papilio Sophoras Linnceus, Mus. Lud. Ub: p. 266., Syst. 

 Nat. u. p. 767. n. 121.; Clerck, Icnnes, t. 35. f. 3.; 

 Merian, Surin. Ins. t. 35. ; lioesel, I11.9. Bel. 4. t. 4. f. 

 1, 2. ; Fabrieius, Syst. Ent. p. 483., Ent. Syst. iii. pt. 

 I. p. 150. n. 459. ; Cramer, Pap. pi. 253. f. A. B.C. ; 

 Stall, Suppl. Cram. pi. 3. f. 2. A. B. (caterpillar and 

 chrysalis); Godart, Enc M. ix. p. 457. n. 1.; Bois- 

 duval in Cuvier, Regne An. ed. Crochard, Ins. pi. 141. 

 f. 2. ; Lucas, Hist. A^at. Lep. Exot. pi. 76- f- 2. ; 

 Blanchard, Hist. Nat. Ins. Lep. pi. 15. f. 3.; Doubl. 

 WeslvK S; Hewits. Gen. Diurn. Lep. pi. 59. f. 2. 

 Surinam, Brazil. B. M. 



2. Bras. Astyra. 



Brassolis Astyra Godart, Enc. M. ix. 

 Boisduval, Spec. Gen. Lep. i. pi. 1 3 

 Iron. It. An. Ins. pi. 79. f- 4. 

 Brazil. 



p. 457. n. 2. ; 

 f. 2. ; Criterin, 



B. M. 



3. Bras. Macrosiris. 



Brassolis Macrosiris Boisduval MS. ; Doubl. Westw. Sj 

 Hewitsou, Gen. Diurn. Lep. pi. 59. f. 3. 

 Cayenne. 



Afarrh I. 1851. 



4 7. 



