28 THE NATURALIST. 



the exterior portion, consisting of a large triangular space, transparent, with the nerv- 

 ures and external border black. The inferior wings are black, edged externally with 

 white, and having a central blue band in continuation of the anterior one. On the un- 

 der side, the base of all the wings is whitish, and the abdominal margin of the under 

 pair is marked with three curved white streaks ; abdomen whitish beneath, and having 

 a double row of black dots on each side. In the female the bands on the wings are 

 white. 



PEACOCK'S EYE. 



VANESSA YO. 



No. 4. The color of this elegant insect is deep brown-ash-red, inclining to purple, 

 with a large eye-like spot on each wing. On the anterior wings this spot is placed 

 near the apex, and is composed of a yellow crescent on the inner side, a semi-circular 

 patch of blue externally, and a large reddish-brown pupil, which becomes darker ante- 

 riorly, where it unites with the black margin. On the outer side of the pupil there 

 are three small spots of a whitish-blue color, forming an irregular line with two others 

 placed in the red portion of the wing. The ocellus is bounded internally by a triangu- 

 lar patch of black, next to this is a yellow spot, succeeded by a black triangular one, 

 which does not reach the anterior margin : the latter towards the base is yellowish, 

 with transverse lines of black. The ocellus of the hinder wings consists of a large 

 black central patch, spotted with blue, and encircled by a zone of pale silky-brown, 

 which is bounded anteriorly by a large black crescent. 



ERYCINA MELIB^US. 



Nos. 5 & 6. This beautiful insect belongs to that division of Erycina which has 

 opaque wings, and a short obtuse tail to the hinder pair. It is about two inches in ex- 

 tent of wing. The surface is uniform dark brown, with a bright red oblique band run- 

 ning across the middle of both wings, and a large crescent of the same color near the 

 origin of the tail. On the inner side of the upper wings there is the appearance of an- 

 other oblique red band, but it is obsolete except at the hinder margin. The under side 

 forms a striking contrast with the surface, the ground color being black, with two bril- 

 liant blue bands, the outer one very broad, the interior somewhat -macular, and termi- 

 nating behind in a red point. Body brown above and black beneath. 



Like most of the species constituting the genus Erycina it is a native of America. 



POHYOMMATUS ALEXIS. 



COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY. 



Nos. 7 , 8. This species is so variable in its markings, and even in the form of the 

 wings, that some entomologists are of opinion that more than one distinct species may 

 be included under the name. It is a very abundant insect, and, unlike the rest of its 

 associates, is distributed over the whole country. It frequents pasture lands and grassy 

 meadows. 



