A GORGEOUS INSECT. 



655 



On the upper surface it is a handsome and boldly-coloured 

 insect, but on the lower surface its beauty is an absolute sur- 

 prise. The ground colour of the upper wings is deep velvety 

 black, with a tapering bar of crimson across the centre, and a 

 large triangular patch of the same colour at the base, shading off 

 into yellow. The lower wings are black and orange, the colours 

 being arranged as shown in the illustration. If, however, it be 

 turned over and held in a strong light, its beauty is marvellous. 



Fig. 389. — Bizarda optima. 

 (Black, crimson, and yellow.) 



At first sight it seems to be coloured as above, but when a side 

 light falls upon it, both pairs of wings are seen to be of the 

 most brilliant metallic blue as far as their centre, the colour 

 being quite as splendid as that of any of the Morpho Butterflies. 

 Even the legs are of the same splendid blue. An allied species, 

 Bizarda clarissima, of Ara, is black and white except the base 

 of the wings and the whole of the head and body, which are 

 rich blue-green. 



