148 LEPIDOPTERA. 



A. Namouna, Doubl., is shot with much brighter blue ; but most of 

 the other Indian species, and several of the South American too, 

 are much inferior to our own in size and beauty. But others from 

 the latter country are of a bright blue or greenish blue above; 

 and in A. Laurentia, Godt., the under surface of the hind wings is 

 of a brilliant silvery white. The larvae of Apatura and its allies 

 are smooth, with horns on the head, and sometimes a slightly 

 bifid tail. The butterflies fly round the tops of the highest trees, 

 and rarely descend to the ground. 



Agrias jfldon, Hew., is the type of a magnificent genus confined 

 to the west of South America. The species have black and scarlet 

 fore wings, and stout bodies, and resemble gigantic Catagrammce in 

 appearance, measuring nearly four inches in expanse. There is 

 generally a large blue spot on the brown hind wings. The species 

 are always rare, and difficult to obtain, generally settling on the 

 trunks or branches of trees at some height from the ground. But, 

 like other butterflies of this group, they may sometimes be found 

 on pathways, settled on dung. 



The genus Charaxes, Ochs., includes a large number of very 

 handsome African and East Indian butterflies much resembling 

 Apatura in their habits. They are lofty flyers, and difficult to 

 capture. One species only (C. Jasius, Linn.) is European ; for it is 

 common all round the Mediterranean wherever the Strawberry 

 Tree (Arbutus Unedo), on which the larva feeds, is plentiful. It 

 is reddish-brown above, with yellow borders ; the under surface 

 is beautifully reticulated with dark red and white. It measures 

 about three inches across the wings. Several of the African 

 species are similarly marked ; others are brown, with red or blue 

 markings ; and one of the smallest species, C. Eupole, Drury, which 

 does not exceed two inches in expanse, is of a peculiar, slightly 

 yellowish, green colour. The East Indian species are either of a 

 deep tawny or orange brown, with black borders, or of a creamy 

 white. In South America this genus is represented by Megistanis, 

 Westw., the commonest species of which, M. Bceotus, Doubl. and 

 Hew., is common on the Upper Amazons, and in Bogota, and is 

 black, with blue markings; it expands about four inches. Mr. 

 Bates notes this species as appearing at the commencement of the 

 dry season in June, flying about the moist sediment left by the 

 retreating waters of the river. Although abundant, it is a difficult 

 insect to capture, as it is very wary, and its flight is very wild 

 and rapid. In both these genera the hind wings are strongly 



