THE KING OF THE BUTTERFLIES. 1 89 



after some one of the Homeric heroes, choosing a name 

 from the Trojan list, if black was a prominent colour, as if 

 mourning for a defeat, and from the Greeks if the prevail- 

 ing hues were gay. The one I speak of was called after the 

 king of Ilium, because it was the finest species of the butter- 

 fly then known. It is found only in Amboyna ; its elegant 

 wings expand fully eight inches, and they are splendidly 

 coloured with the richest emerald green and velvety black. 



Other species of the same noble genus have recently 

 been discovered in the same Archipelago ; but the Trojan 

 monarch remained without a rival. About a year ago, 

 however, Mr A. R Wallace, an accomplished entomologist, 

 and one who has had a greater personal acquaintance 

 than any other man of science, with the Lepidoptera of 

 the very richest regions of the globe Brazil, and the 

 Indian Isles, announced by letter the discovery and 

 capture of a still more magnificent species. Having 

 arrived at Batchian, one of the isles of the eastern part of 

 the Archipelago, on an entomological exploration, he pre- 

 sently caught sight of a grand new Ornithoptera, which, 

 though the specimen was a female, and escaped capture, 

 gave promise for the future. At last the expected capture 

 was made, and Mr Wallace thus records his emotions on 

 the occasion ; emotions, it must be remembered, of no 

 tyro, but of a veteran insect-hunter. 



" I had determined to leave here about this time, but 

 two circumstances decided me to prolong my stay : first, 

 I succeeded at last in taking the magnificent new Orni- 

 thoptera, and, secondly, I obtained positive imforniation 



