168 Mr. G. F. Mathew’s life-histories of 
that the afternoon is the best time of the day to obtain 
them. It was now getting late, and, as we were close to 
our boat, we embarked and returned to the ship, well 
pleased with our day’s sport. 
Although Ornithuptera, asa rule, fly high, the larve 
are generally found within easy reach. At Meoko, Duke 
of York Islands, I found full-grown and small larve of 
O. durvilliana within six feet of the ground, and empty 
pup-cases within two feet; and at Thursday Island, in 
Torres Straits, larve of O. pronomus were taken feeding 
upon trailing shoots of Aristolochia within a few inches 
of the ground (one of them was nearly trodden upon), 
while pupze were taken from four to six feet from the 
ground. 
Ornithoptera pronomus, Gray. 
Length of full-grown larva from 58 to 64 mm., 
tapering towards each extremity; central segments 
much thickened; smoky black, some with a tinge of 
madder-purple ; head black and shining, with a narrow 
white V-shaped mark on the face; upon the crown of 
the second segment a triangular-shaped shining black 
plate, just before which is the transverse nuchal aper- 
ture, from whence, when the larva is annoyed, a pair of 
short, thick, fleshy, carmine tentacles are protruded; a 
subdorsal row of rather long and finely-pointed spines, 
those on the posterior segments pointing backwards ; 
tips and base black, intermediate parts carmine; the 
spine on the eighth segment is white at base with black 
tip, and pink in the middle, and with its base produced 
into a broad white oblique stripe pointing forwards, and 
terminating at the spiracular region; a row of black 
spines just below the spiracles ; upon the third, fourth, 
and fifth segments an additional spine between the sub- 
dorsal and spiracular row; a short, black, blunt tubercle 
upon the second segment on each side of the face ; a short 
black spine above each clasper and legs; claspers and 
legs shining black. 
The chrysalis, which is of an amber-brown colour, is 
slightly angulated; a pair of blunt, subdorsal, black- 
tipped spines upon each side of the abdominal segments, 
and some small black spines upon the back of the 
thorax: a large and almost triangular-shaped orange- 
yellow blotch upon back of anterior abdominal segments ; 
