400 



THE POSEIDON. 



flies having knobs at their tips, while those of the Moths are pointed. The first family is that 

 of the Papilionidae, in which are included the largest and most magnificent specimens of this 

 order. The fanciful names with which so many of these insects have been honored are chiefly 

 due to Linnaeus, who was so struck with the splendid dimensions and gorgeous coloring of 

 these insects, that he deemed them worthy of Homeric titles, called them Equites, or knights, 

 and, separating them into two divisions, gave to all those which have red spots on the sides 

 of the breast the names of the Trojan heroes, and to those which were without the red spots, 

 and had an eye-shaped mark on the lower wings, the names of the Greek warriors who fought 

 against Troy. Unfortunately, for this division, it happens that the two sexes of many species 

 are very diverse, and cause great confusion, so that Polycaon, one of the Greeks, and Lao- 

 docus, a Trojan hero, have been found to be the two sexes of the same insect, the latter being 

 the female. 



The splendid insect which is shown in the illustration is one of a genus which, by common 

 consent, takes the first rank among the Lepidoptera, in consequence of their great size, the 

 elegant boldness of their shapes, and the richness of their coloring. In them, the two fore-legs 



are not stunted, as is the case with 

 so many butterflies, but are large, 

 strong, and can be used in walk- 

 ing ; and the tips of the antennae 

 have a very slight bend upwards. 

 The caterpillar of this insect is 

 furnished with two retractile 

 tentacles, placed on the neck in 

 a fork-like shape, and is able to 

 protrude these organs at will, at 

 the same time emitting a very 

 unpleasant odor. The chrysalis 

 is hung up by means of silken 

 threads from the tail, and the 

 body is prevented from swinging 

 about too rudely by a pair of 

 very stout silken cords, one of 

 which is affixed to each side, and 

 moors the pupa firmly to the 

 substance against which it hangs. 

 The shape of the pupa is rather 

 peculiar, being angular in its out- 

 line, and having also an irregular 

 curve. 



The perfect Amphkisius is 

 a boldly marked insect, though 

 without much variety of color- 

 ing. The upper wings are rich 

 blackish-brown, and the lower 

 are fine king's-yellow, edged 

 with jetty-black, and having a 

 fringe of long hair-like scales upon their inner edges. The under side is nearly of the same 

 colors, except that a few dashes of chalky-white are seen upon the upper wings, as if dashed 

 in with a quick sweep of a dry brush, and a similar dash of yellow is seen upon the lower 

 wings. The abdomen is bright yellow below and dark brown above, and round the neck is a 

 narrow collar of fiery crimson, rich and silken as "chenille." 



Another species of this genus, the Poseidon, is a great favorite with the natives of the 

 Darnley Islands, who are accustomed to catch several of these tine insects, to tie one end of a 

 line thread to the butterfly, and the other to their hair, so as to permit the insects to flutter 



AMPIIRISroS.— Ornithoplera Amphrisius. 



