THE SHAVING-BKUSH BUTTEEFLY. 617 



surface. Then conies a velvet-black bar extending completely 

 across the wing, and being wider on the upper than on the outer 

 edge. Next is a bar of dark blue, edged with black ; and the rest 

 of the wing is brown, except a black edging. The lower wings 

 are brown-black at the base and on the margin, while the centre 

 is occupied with a large patch of bright blue. Beneath, the 

 upper wings are crimson, black, blue, and brown, but not so 

 bright as on the upper surface. The lower wings are mottled 

 very much like the skin of the jaguar, the spots being olive- 

 black with bluish centres. 



This species is a native of the Amazons district, and is very 

 rare. 



There are several curious insects belonging to this genus, one 

 of which is Agrias Phalcidon, which has the base of the wino-s 

 very deep blue, followed by a broad band of olive and then by 

 black. This insect is remarkable for a pair of brush-like tufts 

 of yellow hair that project from the base of the lower win»s. 

 Concerning these tufts there is a small story. 



It sometimes, though not often, happens that visitors to the 

 insect room at the British Museum are utterly ignorant of ento- 

 mology, and in consequence are very troublesome to the officers. 

 Of course only the most showy insects are selected for exhi- 

 bition to such persons, who are politely got out of the room as 

 soon as possible. Once, however, two young ladies overpassed 

 the well-tried patience of the officer who was showing the 

 insects, their chief idea of butterflies being the effect which 

 they would produce if worn as ornaments. At last, when the 

 Agrias drawer was opened, their guide gravely pointed out this 

 species, and told them that it was called the Shaving-brush 

 Butterfly, because it used these brushes every morning in 

 shaving itself. Furthermore, he said that it was a swift insect 

 and difficult to catch, but that it could always be taken by 

 putting out over-night a basin of soap-suds, which attracted the 

 butterflies and enabled the collector to catch as many as he 

 wanted. And they believed him. 



There is only a single specimen of Agrias Sardanapalus in 

 the British Museum. 



Mr. Bates has the following remarks on the genus : — " Asrias. 

 I think, is the most magnificent group of the Nymphalida in 

 South America. They are very bold, strong, rapid fliers, not at 



