THE LEPTOCIRCUS. 



59 



the shining transparent membrane of the upper wings being crossed with dark bars, and 

 the central stripe of the lower wings being edged with scarlet. It is a native of Demerara. 

 Our last example of this genus is the THOAS, a very striking insect, whose colors are 

 almost wholly black and yellow. This insect is to be seen in the same illustration as the 

 last, and its colors can be well imagined from the fact that, excepting a very small spot 

 of orange-red on the inner edge of the lower wings, all the dark parts are black, and all 

 the light are rich yellow. Below, it is almost wholly yellow, but of an ochreous and 



SARPEDON. Paplllo Sarpedon. 



HECTOR. Paplllo Hector. 



duller cast. In England we have but one acknowledged example of the genus Papilio. 

 This is the beautiful SWALLOW-TAILED BUTTERFLY (Papilio Machaon\ a rare and brilliant 

 creature. The flight of this insect is rather high, swift, and straight. I have once seen 

 it crossing a field near Oxford, on the banks of the Cherwell. 



Two examples yet remain of the Papilionidae. The first is the very remarkable insect 

 which is known by the name LEPTOCIRCUS, and which, until comparatively late years, was 

 as rare as it is singular. This insect is not of great size, the expanded wings seldom 

 exceeding an inch and a half, and being usually rather less in their measurement. The 



