572 



ARTICULATA. 



winijs bccoino siiflicioiitly cxpaiulod to bo avuilablo for flight. Many butterflies, immediately 

 before takini; their fliglit into tlie air, eject a red fluid from the anus, which, of course, forms a 

 re.i sin)l wherever it falls ; and this — when, as is sometimes the case, vast quantities of some 

 spocics of butterfly have siuiultaneously attained the perfect state, in a particular district — has given 

 rise to the stories of bloodi/ runt. 



These insects are divided into two great groups or sub-orders, the Rhopalocera and Ileterocera. 



THE EIIOPALOCEEA. 



Tills name is derived from the Greek rhopalon, a club, and kcras, a horn, and is descriptive of 

 the club-shaped form of the antenntc of these insects — the Butterflies, the most charming of the 

 insect creation. They form only a single tribe, whicli, liowever, is divided into numerous fami- 

 lies and sub-families. They are all diurnal in their habits, fluttering about from flower to flower 

 in the hottest sunshine, and nearly all of them carrying their wings upright over their backs in 



repose. It is in liot climates that the 

 largest and most magnificent species 

 abound. Under the burning rays of 

 the tropical sun, brilliantly metallic 

 species sport like living gems, and 

 even those not adorned Avith metallic 

 tints exhibit an elegance and variety 

 of coloring wliich is perhaps not sur- 

 passed by any other productions of 

 nature. We can only notice a few 

 prominent species. 



The Priam Butterfly, Pajjilio 

 Priamus, is a native of the Eastern 

 Archipelago ; its wings are from seven 

 to eight inches in extent, and are 

 colored with rich green and deep 

 black. This is one of the most beau- 

 tiful species of the order, and living 

 in a climate of perpetual summer, and 

 amid the most gorgeous of flowers, is 

 one of the glories of nature. 

 The Apollo Butterfly, P. AjmUo, is found in the damp meadows of the high Alps ; the 

 wings are whitish, with five black spots on each of the superior ones ; on the inferior are two 



sparkling eye-like figures, bordered with 

 black. It flies in June and July. Thus 

 even wild mountain regions, as well as 

 those of the florid tropics, are embel- 

 lished by this beautiful family. 



The Flame Butterfly, P. j(i06?a^/r/MS, 

 of Europe, has yellow wings, the upper 

 as well as the lower ones crossed with 

 black rays, in the form of flames. The 

 :^ caterpillar of this species is found on 

 plum-trees, peach-trees, and the like. 



The Sybil Butterfly, P. Sybilla, 

 sometimes called the Mourning But- 

 terfly, is a common European species, 

 flying in the dog-days, the upper part 

 of the wings of a brownish-black, with 

 a white band across the middle ; beneath they are of an ashy-blue, witli black spots. 



THE PRIAH BCTTERPLT. 



THE APOLLO BUTTERFLY. 



