EJ.VDSO.\fE BUTTERFLIES. 



429 



grouod beliind tlie village being mostly swampy, and then 

 turned into the forest along a path wliicli leads to the 

 native viUagc of Wamma, about three milos otl on the 

 other side of the island- The path was a narrow one, and 

 very little used, often swarapy and obstructed by I'allt^n 

 trees, so that after about a mUe we lost it alto^L^ether, onr 

 guide having turned back, and we were obliged to follow 

 his example. In the meantime, however, 1 had not been 

 idlt\ and my day's captures dtitermiued the success of my 

 journey in an entomological point of \k'.\v. I liad taken 

 about thirty species of buttertlies, more than 1 had ever 

 captured in a day sir^ce le^aving the prolific banks of the 

 Amafcon, and among them were many most rai'e and 

 beautiful insects, hitherto only known by a few specimens 

 from New Guinea. The large and handsome spectre- 

 butterfly, Hestia dnr\'illei; the jiale-winged peacock 

 buttei*fly, Brusilla catops ; and the most brilliant and 

 wonderful of the clear-winged motlis, Cocytia d'Urvillei, 

 were especially interesting, as well as several little 

 ** blues," etiualling iu brilliancy and beauty anything the 

 butterfly world can produce. In the other groups of 

 insects I was not so suecessfii], but this was not to be 

 wondered at in a inere 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 relumed 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 tlie 

 most magnificent iiisect^ the world cont^iins, the great bird- 

 winged butterfly, Ornithoptera poseidon. 1 trembled with 

 excitement as I saw it coming majestically towards mo, 

 and could hardly believe I had really succeeded in my 

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

 lost in admiration, at the velvet Itlack and brilUant green 

 of its wings, seven inches across, its golden body, and 

 crinison breast. It is true I had seen similar insects in 

 cabinets at home, but it is quite another thing to capture 

 such oncself^ — to feel it struggling between one's fingei's, 

 and to gaze upon its fresh and living beauty, a bright geiu 



