196 THALIURA. 



and the only way therefore to obtain good specimens, 

 is to feed the caterpillar. " Great numbers of this 

 insect," says Mr. Swainson, speaking of a species 

 almost the exact counterpart of U. Leilits, "■ were 

 flying during the whole of the morning, past Aqua 

 Fria (Pernambuco) in a direction from north to 

 south : not one deviated from this course, notwith- 

 standing the flowers which were growing around : 

 they flew against the wind, which blew rather strong, 

 and near the ground, but mounted over every tree 

 or other high object which lay in their course ; yet 

 their flight was so rapid, that I could not capture 

 a single specimen. They went singly, and near 

 fifty or sixty must have passed the spot opposite the 

 window before mid- day : they continued to pass for 

 three or four days in this manner. 12th June 



1817*-" 



The present genus differs from Urania in the per- 

 fect insect having three distinct tails at the hinder 

 extremity of the posterior wings ; neither are these 

 wings so much elongated' as in the group just named. 

 The differences between them in their early states 

 will be seen by comparing the following descriptions. 



* Zoological Illustrations, 126. 



