BUTTERFLIES 151 



pleasure that I did while panting on the ground, and 

 holding that insect between my fingers. 



There was a climbing-plant in bloom at one end of 

 my hunting-ground; and once while passing it, I saw a 

 very large butterfly near the top : I waited some time 

 for him to come down, and at last was rewarded by his 

 coming near enough for my net. It was an ornithop- 

 tera (0. priamus) considered by naturalists one of the 

 finest insects in the world. It was indeed magnificent ; 

 its colors were deep, velvety black and golden green, 

 and the expanse of its wings was seven inches. The 

 females are even larger than the males; but their colors 

 are not nearly so lustrous, being mostly brown. 



Another exquisite butterfly found at MacKay was 

 the large black and blue papilio. The whole of the 

 upper surface is deep, velvety black and rich, shining 

 blue. When flying, the bright, metallic blue reflects 

 the sunlight at every stroke, giving out a flash which 

 can be readily seen half a mile away, making them the 

 most striking objects on the wing. They are strong 

 fliers, and frequently give one a long chase; but to 

 catch such an insect is worth something of a run. 



When I became too tired to run any longer, I would 

 either lie down on the grass in a shady place, to watch 

 the insects flit about, or go down to the river, and 

 bathe in the cool water ; then, at sundown, gathering 

 up my well -filled boxes, I would start for the town. 



A great deal of sugar-cane is raised in Northern 



