274 THE BUTTERFLY VIVARIUM. 



beauty of the Morpho family, which in its turn 

 would dazzle the eyes with the resplendent silvery 

 azure of its wings of shining satin. 



I have, however, been destined to disappointment. 

 With one brilliant exception, to be described in some 

 detail in this Chapter, little has been yet done. I 

 must, however, note a few exceptions to this 

 sweeping assertion. Mr. H. Doubleday succeeded 

 in rearing to maturity the eggs of the giant 

 Moth, Saturnia Pavonia Major, sent over by his bro- 

 ther, who was at that time in America ; and, turn- 

 ing them loose in Epping Forest, he hoped in that 

 way to naturalize that magnificent species. He was, 

 however, frustrated in his experiment, more than 

 one of these large and conspicuous insects being 

 caught and brought back to him, within a 

 day or two, ready pinned through the body, and 

 " set out " for preserving, the captor deeming that 

 he had secured a most unusually valuable prize, for 

 which he expected a proportionate reward. Some 

 others of the brood were found dead and mutilated ; 

 probably by birds that feed principally upon Avinged 

 insects. In short, the glorious Saturnia Tavonia 

 Major has not become naturalized in Epping Forest 

 — no single specimen having ever been seen since 

 that season. 



