DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE SAME 1XSECT. 



661 



when the insect is at rest is so different from its aspect with 

 outspread wings, that when two specimens are placed alongside 

 of each other, one "set" as if flying, and the other with closed 

 wings, they would scarcely be recognized as belonging to the 

 same species. 



We will begin with the upper wings. The ground colour is 

 velvet-black, crossed with a number of narrow streaks of shininjr, 

 glittering, emerald green. On the wing are a number of white 

 stripes and patches, and there is one point which requires 



Fig. 395.— Erasmia pulchella. 

 (Black, green, orange, and yellow.) 



special notice. I have already mentioned the conspicuous 

 difference between the appearance of the insect in two different 

 attitudes. This is partly due to the general outline of the 

 insect, which is heart-shaped when the wings are closed, but 

 chiefly to the shape and colour of one of the markings on 

 the upper pair of wings. If the reader will refer to the figure, 

 he will see that at the base of the wing there is a white patch, 

 followed by a grey stripe, and then by a curved bar of a light 

 colour. Now this bar is bright orange, and when the wings are 

 closed, these bars form a continuous collar-like mark, and have 

 a singularly conspicuous effect. 



The lower wings are brightly coloured. At the base they are 



