270 Mr. P. H. Gosse on the Insects of Jamaica. 



so exquisitely beautiful when examined in detail, has so much 

 the appearance of the gray bark of a tree as to be undistinguish- 

 able, even though the eye has been following it up to that mo- 

 ment. The insect seems to be aware of this power of conceal- 

 ment, and to trust to it ; for after having thus alighted it will 

 allow of a close approach without again flying, provided the 

 attention of the observer be not very obviously directed to the 

 spot. 



41. Paphia troglodyta. I believe this species occurred but on 

 a single occasion; one morning early in May, three specimens 

 were captured by my servant at Sabito. I know nothing of its 

 habits. 



42. Paphia Portia (P. Astyanax, Cram.). This is one of the 

 species which are found in considerable abundance all through 

 the year. It chiefly affects the lowlands, though I have occa- 

 sionally taken it at the elevation of Bluetields Mountain. The 

 road at Sabito and at Belmont, and the immediate vicinity of 

 Alligator Pond, in all of which the soil is a heavy sand close to 

 the sea-beach, are the situations where I have found it most nu- 

 merous. To take it requires a net with a long staff, for it flies 

 rather high, playing over the tops of the trees, but frequently 

 alighting on the broad leaf of a sea-grape (Coccoloba) at the 

 height of fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. As if confident 

 in this security, it will frequently allow the net to be placed 

 almost against it before it will move. Two sometimes play 

 together in the air, rising to a great elevation, with swift tor- 

 tuous evolutions ; then, descending, each will suddenly alight on 

 a leaf, turning in the instant so as to bring the head down- 

 wards, — an invariable rule, — and closing the wings at the same 

 moment, when it will rest awhile motionless. In recent speci- 

 mens there is a rich violet opalescence, which plays over the 

 scarlet surface of the wings in some lights, and which is very 

 beautiful. 



43. Aganisthos Orion. At Sabito Bottom this imposing but- 

 terfly is rather common, and so it is some two or three miles 

 farther on, upon the same road, beyond the Water-wheel. These 

 spots have in common the close proximity of the sea-beach on 

 the one hand, and on the other a dense impenetrable morass, 

 covered with trees and bushes. Over the tops of the tallest trees 

 of the morass, Orion is frequently seen playing with another of 

 his species, occasionally coming down to alight on the topmost 

 twig, or on some projecting leaf of a tree, frequently one that 

 overhangs the road ; it always rests head downward, in the man- 

 ner of Portia ; it is very vigilant, never descends within many 

 yards of the ground, and will not allow of an intruder's approach ; 

 when it flies, it will often, after taking a wide circuit, return to 



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