BUTTERFLIES. 



73 



West, they are especially abundant, and comprise some 

 of the handsomest and most remarkable species in the 

 whole group. Their aspect is altogether different from 

 that presented by the butterflies of Europe and of most 

 temperate countries. A considerable proportion of the 

 species are very large, six to eight inches across the 

 wings being not uncommon among the Papilionidse and 

 Morphidse, while several species are even larger. This 

 great expanse of wings is accompanied by a slow flight ; 

 and, as they usually keep near the ground and often 

 rest, sometimes with closed and sometimes with ex- 

 panded wings, these noble insects really look larger and 

 are much more conspicuous objects than the majority of 

 our native birds. The first sight of the great blue 

 Morphos flapping slowly along in the forest roads near 

 Para — of the large, white-and-black semi-transparent 

 Ideas floating airily about in the woods near Malacca — • 

 and of the golden-green Ornithopteras sailing on bird- 

 like wing over the flowering shrubs which adorn the 

 beach of the Ke and Aru islands, can never be forgotten 

 by any one with a feeling of admiration for the new and 

 beautiful in nature. Next to the size, the infifiitely 

 varied and dazzling hues of these insects most attract 

 the observer. Instead of the sober browns, the plain 

 yellows, and the occasional patches of red or blue or 

 orange that adorn our European species, we meet with 

 the most intense metallic blues, the purest satiny greens, 

 the most gorgeous crimsons, not in small spots but in 

 large masses, relieved by a black border or background. 

 In others we have contrasted bands of blue and orange, 

 or of crimson and green, or of silky yellow relieved by 

 velvety black. In not a few the wings are powdered 



