THE DIDO. 



and filled with a yellowish oil resembling in taste a sweet nut. These masses, with which 

 the ' netbuls ' or ' talabats ' of the native tribes are loaded during the season of feasting 

 upon the Hugong, will not keep a week, and seldom even for that time ; but by 

 smoking they are able to preserve them for a much longer period. The first time this 

 diet is used by the native tribes, violent vomiting and other debilitating effects are 

 produced, but after a few days they become accustomed to its use, and then thrive and 

 fatten exceedingly upon it. 



These insects are held in such estimation among the aborigines, that they assemble 

 from all parts of the country to collect them from the mountains. It is not only the 

 native blacks that resort to the ' Hugong,' but the crows also congregate for the same 

 purpose. The blacks ^that is, the crows and the aborigines) do not agree about their 

 respective shares, so the stronger decides the point ; for when the crows, called ' Ara- 

 bul ' by the natives, enter the hollows of the rocks, and feed upon the insects, the natives 

 stand at the entrance, and kill them as they fly out, and they afford them an excellent 

 meal, being fat from feeding upon the rich Bugong. So eager are these feathered blacks, 

 or Arabuls. after this food, that they attack it even when it is preparing by the natives ; 

 but as the aborigines never consider any increase of food a misfortune, they lie in wait 

 for the Arabuls with waddies, or clubs, kill them in great numbers, and use them as 

 food." 



The color of the Uugong is dark brown, with two black eye-like spots on the upper 

 wings. The body is rather stout, filled with a yellow oily substance, and covered with 

 down. It is not a large insect, the spread of wing averaging an inch and a half. 



WE now arrive at another family, 

 of which the ARCHIPPUS affords a good 

 example of the typical genus. This fine 

 insect measures about four inches and a 

 quarter between the points of the out- 

 spread wings, of which the entire con- 

 tour is bold and sweeping. There is but 

 little diversity of coloring in this butter- 

 fly ; rich chestnut striped and streaked 

 with black being the ground tint, and re- 

 lieved round the edges with white spots, 

 arranged in a rather irregular double 

 series. The under surface presents simi- 

 lar hues, but of a paler cast. The 

 head, thorax, and abdomen are deep vel- 

 vety black, decorated with small spots 

 of snowy white. 



THE large and important family of 

 the Nymphalidse contains a vast number 

 of species, most of which are notable for 

 their brilliant coloring, and many of 

 which are well-known natives of England. 

 These insects are, indeed, so numerous, 

 that only a very slight sketch can be 

 given of them. 



The large and boldly marked insect in the lower left-hand corner of the engrav- 

 ing is the Pi IK), a native of Brazil and Guiana, and is here represented of the 

 natural size. The ground color of its wings is blackish brown, and all the lighter 

 parts are soft leafy green, with a slight pearly gloss. On the under surface, the ground 

 color is chocolate, the green marks are much paler, and rather more opalescent than 

 on the upper surface, and edged with silvery white. There are, besides, several bands 

 of the same delicate hue on various parts of the wings. 'The caterpillar of this insect 

 is green, diversified with a red and white stripe on each side of the body, and covered 

 with several rows of short spines, besides two rather long appendages to the tail. 



ARCHIPPUS.-DaM/s archlppus. 



