205 



RHIPHEUS DASYCEPHALUS. 

 PLATE XXX. 



Urania Rhipheus, Far. Cramer, GodaH. — Rhipheus Dasyce- 

 phalus, Swainson, Zool. Illus. PI. 131. 



We have copied the accompanying figures from 

 Drury's work on exotic insects, in order that they 

 may be compared with those represented on Plate 

 XXVIII. It will at once be perceived that they 

 present numerous points of agreement, as well as 

 very obvious differences, and when every considera- 

 tion is taken into account, it is not easy to say 

 whether they ought to be regarded as distinct spe- 

 cies, or merely varieties of the same. Drury states 

 that his insect was brought from China, and when 

 the drawing was taken, it was in the possession of 

 Captain May of Hammersmith ; in all probability, 

 however, it is now lost. The antennae are described 

 as black and knobbed at their extremities, and the 

 hinder wings are without tails. 



On the supposition that Drury's figures accurately 

 represent the insect as it appeared when alive, the 

 only connexion which it has with Urania arises 

 from the similar distribution of colours and neura- 

 tion of the wings ; in other respects it would be 



