362 INSECTS. LEPIDOPTERA. 



lation, implanted on both surfaces of the wings, and disposed like the tiles of a roof, 

 form a species of natural Mosiac work, in finer colours, and more harmoniously com- 

 bined, than the imitations of human art. 



The female butterfly deposits her ova upon vegetables proper for nourishing the 

 caterpillars when hatched. These caterpillars after a certain period, and after some 

 changes of skin, take a new form, or become chrysalids, a state in which the future 

 butterfly is enveloped under a naked skin, rough with projecting points, and often 

 strewed with points of a gold or silver colour, which distinguishes the chrysalids 

 of this genus from all the other Lepidoptera. Sometimes these chrysalids are sus- 

 pended vertically and fixed by the posterior extremity of their body by means of a 

 small tuft of silk, or by a band of the same nature. From this chrysalis after a time 

 the butterfly cames forth ; and Swammerdam demonstrated in the presence of the 

 Grand Duke of Tuscany, the developement of members so marvellously inclosed in 

 this outer covering. The greater number of the Lepidoptera remain eight or nine 

 months in the chrysalis form ; but in the present genus, all the metamorphoses take 

 place in about two months ; and when the weather is genial, the change from the 

 chrysalis to the perfect insect takes place in fifteen days. The caterpillars which 

 are transformed into chrysalids in the end of autumn pass the winter in this state, 

 and the perfect insect appears in the following spring. 



* Lower wings prolonged into a tail. 



P. Machaon, Lin. Wings yellow or yellowish green in some va- 

 rities, with the nerves black, the posterior border with two rows 

 of parallel lunated spots; upper wings with three short black 

 bands at the side ; lower wings terminated in a narrow tail, with 

 a row of blue spots over the black border which terminates them ; 

 the internal ones ocellated. Inhabits Europe. Shaw, vi. pi. 64. 



** Lower wings not prolonged. 



P. Priamus, Lin. Upper wings silky green above, with a large black 

 spot occupying the greater part ; upper part of the lower wings 

 silky green, with four round black spots and three orange ones in 

 each ; posterior margin black ; under surface of the upper wings 

 brownish black. Inhabits Amboyna Nouv. Diet. xxiv. 513. 



TRIBE II. HESPERIDES. 



Posterior legs with two pairs of spurs ; lower wings almost ho- 

 rizontal in repose ; antennae terminated in some by a club 

 or button, hooked at the end ; in others filiform, with the 

 extremity slender, bent, and pointed. 

 Gen. HESPERIA, URANIA. 



Gen. HESPERIA, Lat. 



Antennae terminated in a club ; inferior palpi short, of three 

 joints, broad, and furnished with scales anteriorly ; body short 

 and thick ; wings triangular, thick, generally horizontal in 

 repose ; abdomen short, almost conical ; feet strong, and the 

 posterior legs with two spines more than the others ; tarsi 

 terminated by two small, simple, and arched hooks. 



The metamorphosis of the Hesperides differs from that of the Papilionides. The 

 caterpillars resemble those of many nocturnal Lepidoptera. They are almost naked, 

 slenderest at the two extremities, or fusiform, with a globular head. They are found 

 between leaves, which they fix together with their silk. The pupae albo resemble 

 those of the nocturnal Lepidoptera. They have no eminences or angular projections, 

 and are inclosed in a slight web, and often on leaves. 



