A BOLD OUTLINE. 



559 



spread wings. It is, however, so conspicuous an insect that it 

 cannot be omitted from the present work. 



It is one of the very few Butterflies that have the upper and 

 under surfaces of the wing almost alike. The aid of colour is 

 not so much needed in this as in many other insects, because, if 

 the reader will imagine that all the light portions of the insect 

 are bright yellow, and the dark portions are jetty black, he can 

 exactly appreciate its real appearance. As has already been 

 stated, the under surface of the wings is very similar to the 

 upper. The yellow, however, is paler, and occupies more of the 

 wing. There are also some orange spots near the margins of 

 the lower wings. 



The insect which is here represented is a native of Northern 

 China, and its rather peculiar characteristics are well shown in 



Fig. 307. — Papilio Mencius. 

 (Brown and crimson.) 



the illustration. One of the remarkable points in this insect is 

 the really grand outline presented by the wings, whether they 

 be open or closed ; the bold curves of the lower wings, and their 

 long, broad tails, being in singular contrast with the firm and 



