CHAP. XXX.] HANLSOME BUTTERFLIES. 199 



journey in an entomological point of view. I had taken 

 about thirty species of butterflies, more than I had ever 

 captured in a day since leaving the prolific banks of the 

 Amazon, and among them were many most rare and 

 beautiful insects, hitherto only known by a few specimens 

 from New Guinea. The large and handsome spectre- 

 butterfly, Hestia durvillei; the pale-winged peacock 

 butterfly, Drusilla catops ; and the most brilliant and 

 wonderful of the cleai'-winged moths, Cocytia drirvillei, 

 were especially interesting, as well as several little 

 " blues," equalling in brilliancy and beauty anything the 

 butterfly world can produce. In the other groups of 

 insects I was not so successful, but this was not to be 

 wondered at in a mere exploring ramble, when only what 

 is most conspicuous and novel attracts the attention. 

 Several pretty beetles, a superb " bug," and a few nice 

 land-shells were obtained, and I returned in the afternoon 

 well satisfied with my first trial of the promised land. 



The next two days were so wet and windy that there 

 was no going out ; but on the succeeding one the sun shone 

 brightly, and I had the good fortune to capture one of the 

 most magnificent insects the world contains, the great bird- 

 winged butterfly, Ornithoptera poseidon. I trembled with 

 excitement as I saw it coming majestically towards me, 

 and could hardly believe I had really succeeded in my 

 stroke till I had taken it out of the net and was gazing, 



