70 BLUEFIELDS. 



general form and appearance, its colours, and their 

 arrangement in transverse bands, any one, at first 

 sight, would pronounce to be a Butterfly of that 

 typical division commonly known as Swallow-tailed ; 

 yet which is found, on anatomical investigation, to 

 possess a very close affinity with Moths. Its habits 

 partake of the same equivocal character, as observed 

 in the Cuban species, Ur. FernandinxB, so delightfully 

 described by Mr. Macleay in the Zool. Trans., and 

 in U. Sloanus, the species which inhabits Jamaica. 

 The contrast produced by the rich velvet-black of the 

 general ground, with the glittering emerald of the 

 bands which cross the wings, is very fine ; and, added 

 to the broad notched band of ruddy gold, sparkling 

 like powdered gems, that is so conspicuous on the 

 posterior pair, entitles this insect to take its place in 

 the very foremost rank of the most lovely class of 

 animated beings. 



The Urania Sloanus is not, like its Cuban relative, 

 abundant on the sea-shore : nor does it manifest any 

 predilection for the Sea-grape (Coccoloba) ; though 

 this common tree fringes the beacli in the immediate 

 vicinity of Bluefields. A single specimen may be 

 now and then seen in the winter months, flitting 

 along over the sea-side bushes ; but it was not until 

 the middle of March that I saw it in any number. 

 Just at that time the Avocado Pear (^Persea gra- 

 tissima) was bursting into blossom on the summit of 

 Bluefields mountain, the drought having just yielded 

 to the first vernal showers. Several ti*ees of this 

 species were growing at the spot I have described 

 above ; some (which had sprung up in an open space. 



