NATURAL HISTORY, 





APATURA ILIA. 



British Butterflies. It measures from two to more than three inches in expanse, and is ot a dark 

 brown above, spotted and barred with white, and there is a red ring near the anal angle of the hind 

 wings. In the nearly allied Continental A. ilia there is a similar eye on the fore wings as well. The 



male is shot with rich purple, 

 and is remarkable for his lofty 

 flight, usually perching on the 

 tops of the tallest trees. It is 

 common in Central Europe, but 

 is confined to the south-east of 

 England. Although ordinarily 

 very difficult to capture, it will 

 sometimes descend to the 

 ground to drink at a puddle, 

 or may be attracted by carrion. 

 The caterpillar, which feeds 

 on sallow, is green, with two 

 horns on the head. 



Aganisthos odius is a 

 grand South American But- 

 terfly, measuring five inches 

 across the wings. The fore 

 wings are long, and almost 



"hooked at the tip, and the body is unusually stout. The wings are of a rich black, with the 

 basal third of 'the fore wings tawny, this colour projecting in a large, slightly-curving lobe, 

 ,almost to the hind margin. It is a Butterfly of very powerful flight, and that of Frepona, 

 an allied South American genus, is said to be so rapid that the eye can scarcely follow it. 

 Sometimes these Butterflies perch suddenly on the trunks of trees, closing their wings and remaining 

 immovable. But if alarmed they dart away for a moment, and then return suddenly to the same 

 spot. These Butterflies are similar in shape to the Purple Emperor, but much larger, and with much 

 stouter bodies. They are black, with a broad bluish-green band across both wings, which is divided, 

 contracted, and turned inwards towards the tip of the fore wings. The upper side of most of the species of 

 Prepona is similar to this, the under side is brown or grey. Near to this genus, and almost as large, 

 measuring over three inches in expanse, is 

 .another South American genus (Ayrias), 

 which resembles a gigantic Catagramma in 

 .appearance. A. cedon is brown, with a broad 

 transverse scarlet band across the fore wings, 

 and a large blue blotch near the anal angle of 

 the hind wings. A. pkalcidon is dark blue, 

 broadly bordered with green. 



Char axes is a genus almost confined to 

 Asia and Africa, though one species (C. 

 yasius), which feeds on the arbutus, is found 

 all round the shores of the Mediterranean. 

 It is a large Butterfly, expanding about three 

 inches. The body is stout, the border of the 



fore wings is deeply excavated, and the hind CHARAXES JASIUS. 



wings are dentated, with two rather long 



tails. It is of a dark brown above, bordered with deep orange ; and the under side is red, banded 

 with white and orange, and marked with black spots, edged with white. It is a Butterfly of very 

 powerful and rapid flight, turning about like a Swallow to avoid any obstacle. It is very shy, 

 and delights in the hottest localities, avoiding the shade of deep woods, and preferring dry hills or the 

 idry beds of torrents, up and down which it courses without stopping to rest. But like other 



