Linnaeus in his defcription of this infect obferve^ 

 that the blue on the upper furface is fo polifhed and 

 lively that fcarce any other natural object can come 

 in competition with it. On the contrary the under 

 furface of the fame animal exhibits an example of a 

 fpecies of beauty refulting from a varied combination 

 Of the plainer! and moft fober colours ; the ground 

 colour being brown flightly ftreaked with higher 

 mades, and marked by feverai very large ocellated 

 ferruginous fpots with dark rings and white pupils. 



If it were not almoft bordering on temerity to 

 attempt a reafon for this flriking difference between 

 the two furfaces of the fame infect, one might fup- 

 pofe that this fobriety of colouring on the lower 

 jfide, is intended in fome meafure to fecure the ani- 

 mal when fitting at reft, with its wings clofed, from 

 the depredations of birds, which are lefs likely to 

 be attracted in this ftate than by the full luftre of its 

 expanded plumage. 



It is a native of South America, and proceeds 

 from a Jarge yellow caterpillar, befet with blac& 

 fpines. 



