BUTTERFLY. 405 



phosed into a chrysalid, no butterfly is produced from it, those in- 

 ternal parts that were essential to its perfection being consumed by 

 the larvesof the ichneumou. From the great fecundity and variety 

 of the insects of this genus, they probably would soon cover the sur- 

 face of the earth, did not nature provide a bar to their increase by 

 multiplying their enemies : hence they are destined to become food 

 to a great number of animals of various kinds, some of which swal- 

 low thm entirely, others macerate their bodies ; while many ac- 

 complish their destruction by gradually sucking their juices. A 

 single pair of sparrows, in order to supply themselves and their 

 young, may destroy, it has been calculated, three thousand three 

 hundred and sixty butterflies in one week. 



The variety and richness of the colours that adorn the greater 

 part of this tribe, have made it an object of especial research by 

 painters as well as by naturalists. In general the tropical climates 

 that heighten the colours both in the plumage of birds, and the 

 scales of fishes, offer the most gaudy specimens of the butterfly.* 

 We have only space to detail an example or two. 



1. P. Priamus. Wings indented, silky; upper pair above grpen 

 with a black disk and edge : lower ones with from four to six black 

 spots; thorax black, with three green spots : this insect measures 

 more than six inches from wing's end to wing's end ; the black is 

 of a velvet softness, the silky wings peculiarly lustrous, and the 

 green of the upper pair of the most beautiful grass hue. Linmuus 

 regarded it as the most superb of the whole papilionaceous tribe. 

 It is a native of Amboyna, and very rare. It arranges under the 

 section Equites, Troes, or Trojans. 



2. P. Hector. Wings tailed black, both surfaces of the same 

 colour; the upper pair with an interrupted white band, lower ones 

 with numerous crimson spots : head and u pper margin of the thorax 

 red. This, also, as its specific name imports, belongs to the same 

 section, and is very appropriately named. It is a native of Asia, 

 and highly beautiful. 



3. P. machaon. Wings tailed, both surfaces alike, yellow with 

 a brown border, in which are yellow lunules ; angle of the tail 

 fulvous. This is one of the very few of the section Equites that 

 are natives of our own country. It is commonly known among 

 collectors of this tribe of insects by the name of the swallow. tailed 

 butterfly, and is a very elegant species. It is generally found in 



2 p 3 



