368 Dr. Wallace on the Ouk-feeding 
the first fourth of their length. Nearly in the middle of each 
wing isa somewhat triangular-shaped spot or eye(ocellus), but with 
the angles rounded ; the transparent portion, which is produced by 
an absence of scales, is bordered externally by several concentric 
and semicircular lines severally of yellow, brown-violet and black 
colours. The eye in its entire diameter measures from 4 to 4 of an 
inch. It is a little larger on the lower than on the upper wings. 
Between the eye and the inferior border runs a straight band, 
white, bordered with grey, blended with a rose-lilac tint; this 
streak runs across both wings. In the upper wings this band 
starts nearly from the tip of the wing, and ends on the inner aspect 
about 3 of an inch from the anal angle; in the lower wings it fol- 
lows, at the distance of about 3 an inch, the undulations of the 
external edge. The costa or front margin of the upper wings is 
bordered with an ashy-blue streak, broad at the base and be- 
coming narrower towards the apex of the wing, darker at the 
outer, lightest at its inner edge. ‘The under-surface of the 
wings is either yellowish-grey or brown, more or less shaded 
according to the general tint, relieved by two or three darker 
bands and spots of dark-grey; the ocellus is obscurely traced, 
but the transparent portions are of course visible; the eyes, 
shaded by the antennee, are of a blue-green, and emit when 
examined by daylight rainbow hues, ‘‘rayons irisés,” which give 
them a singular appearance. The feet are small, and covered 
with long tufted hair, similar to those on the body, of the same 
colour as the wings; the tarsi are dark-brown, and so are the ter- 
minal hooks. The female has the antenne narrowly pectinated, 
much less so than the male; the upper wings are larger than those 
of the male, the tip of the wing less falcate ; the lower wings larger 
and broader, the better to bear the heavier body of the female: as 
to the markings they are mostly similar to those of the male, the 
colour is generally of a browner tint than in the male. The moth 
does not eat readily in captivity; in a state of nature it would 
imbibe the juices of flowers through its proboscis. Copulation 
generally is effected the first or second night after birth, after 
which the eggs are deposited and the round of life begins again. 
I will now relate the history of my unsuccessful experiment in 
1866 to rear this beautiful and valuable Lepidopteron, and after- 
wards mention a few other similar failures in other parts of Eng- 
land. I could have wished it had been in my power to have 
reported success even in a limited degree, but as yet I have heard 
of none. 
