160 Mr. G. F. Mathew’s life-histories of 
The island is traversed by a number of small paths 
which connect the different villages. These are of small 
size, being merely a collection of two or three badly- 
constructed huts. The natives are not a very enter- 
prising race. The men go about perfectly naked, but 
the women wear a narrow kind of belt composed of 
strips of palm-leaves round their waists. 
Upon landing I took one of the paths leading into the 
forest, and had not walked very far before I saw a large 
butterfly flying backwards and forwards at a great 
height between two trees. I could see that it was blue 
and black above, and golden green and spotted beneath, 
and at once knew what it was. I watched it for some 
time as it kept sailing to and fro, every now and then 
descending a little, and making me hope that it was 
coming within reach; then, mounting again rapidly, it 
continued its regular beat, until finally it settled among 
the branches, and I saw it no more. All this was very 
tantalising. Proeeeding onwards, I came to a com- 
paratively open spot, where several of these grand 
creatures were apparently taking their evening exercise 
before retiring to rest, the females, nearly twice the size 
of their mates, looking more like bats or birds than 
butterflies. It was now getting late, and they disappeared 
one after another amid the shelter of the high branches. 
Of course I was exceedingly vexed that none came within 
my reach, and hoped that I might be more successful the 
next day. However, I had a piece of good luck on my 
way back to the ship, for I suddenly saw, about twenty 
yards to the right of the path, a huge black spiny 
larva, suspended to the under side of a leaf of some 
forest-tree. Fortunately it was within easy reach, and 
I soon had leaf and larva in my hands, when I 
noticed that it had only recently attached itself, for it 
protruded its fleshy carmine-coloured tentacles, and 
otherwise exhibited signs of annoyance. I was over- 
joyed at my good fortune, for of course this could be no 
other than the larva of durvilliana.* 
The next morning I landed directly after breakfast, 
and, having procured a bamboo about fourteen feet long, 
* It changed to a chrysalis in a day or two, and on Christmas 
day, at Sydney, a splendid male emerged—a welcome Christmas 
present ! 
