174 A NATURALIST IN CANNIBAL LAND 



of orange colour tipped with black and, lower, two 

 rows of pure black. They had eight rows of very long 

 spines, very similar to the larvae of the Troides 

 victoriae from the Solomons. The pupae seemed, 

 however, to be no larger than those of the common 

 ones. They feed on an entirely different vine to 

 other butterflies. 1 I found the first larvae by accident 

 the first day I reached the hills, and before, even, 

 my camp was made. To my great joy one of the 

 larvae hatched out a male of a light, bright blue 

 colour (almost electric-blue), somewhat similar to the 

 caelestis of St. Aignan, with black markings. 



I measured a larva of this Troides and it measured 

 five inches, when lying along the vine of the food plant. 

 This was larger than any larvae of Attacus hercules 

 that I had seen. These larvae are very beautiful. 

 The combination of jet velvety black with light ruby 

 spines and broad cream-coloured band across the 

 middle of the body makes a striking contrast. Soon 

 I had Troides alexandrae in all stages from the egg 

 to the butterfly. It was a fortunate thing I dis- 

 covered the larvae so early. It was entirely by 

 accident. I was out looking for a suitable place for 

 a camp, and sat down on a log, when my eye was 

 arrested by seeing a Troides larva on a leaf, just about 

 to change its skin. After that, of course, things were 



1 Mr. Meek sent some leaves of the food-plant ; the authorities 

 at Kew Gardens have examined them and pronounce them to 

 belong to an unknown species of Aristolochia. K. J. 



