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MR.  W.  S.  MACLEAY  ON  THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  URANIA. 
The  feet  are  blackish,  with  the  edges  of  the /mora  and  tibia  more  or  less  tipped  with 
bluish  green.    The  antennce  agree  in  figure  and  colour  with  those  of  Ur.  Sloanus. 
It  is  therefore  evident  that  my  insect  differs  from  Godart's  description  of  Ur.  Sloanus 
only  in  the  larger  size,  in  having  more  transverse  golden  green  lines  on  the  upper ' 
wings,  in  the  under  wings  having  no  coppery  red  colour,  and  in  the  discal  band  of  these 
last  not  being  serrated. 
From  Ur.  Boisduvalii,  which  I  only  know  by  M.  Guerin's  figure,  my  insect  differs  also 
in  being  of  larger  size,  in  having  the  tergum  of  the  abdomen  with  longitudinal  green 
bands,  and  in  the  seventh  bifid  line  of  the  upper  side  of  the  upper  wings  not  meeting 
the  sixth  line  at  the  anal  angle.  The  under  wings,  and  the  whole  under  side  of  the 
wings,  are  wholly  different. 
For  the  present,  therefore,  and  deprived  as  I  am  of  the  power  of  referring  to  any 
cabinet,  I  think  I  am  to  a  certain  degree  justified  in  considering  the  insect  I  have  so 
fully  described  under  the  name  of  Urania  Fernandina  to  be  a  distinct  species,  and  I  shall 
now  give  its  economy. 
On  approaching  from  the  sea  any  open  sandy  part  of  the  coast  of  Cuba,  it  will  ap- 
pear girt,  close  above  the  coral  reefs,  with  a  copse  wood  composed  of  almost  one  species 
of  tree.  This  is  the  Coccoloba  uvifera  of  Linnaeus,  or  Uvero^  of  the  Spaniards,  which 
instantly  attracts  a  European  eye  by  the  novelty  of  its  aspect,  the  large  thick  leaves 
being  almost  orbicular,  or,  to  speak  more  accurately,  shaped  somewhat  Hke  a  horse- 
shoe, while  their  shining  green  is  beautifully  relieved  by  blood-red  veins.  This  tree 
produces  an  astringent  fruit  called,  from  its  colour  and  growing  in  racemes,  the  sea- 
side Grape ;  and  a  close  and  nearly  impenetrable  belt  of  it,  which  is  merely  varied  by 
a  few  Chrysobalani^ ,  almost  touches  high-water  mark.  At  the  base  of  this  belt  grow 
the  genera  Cactus,  Euphorbia,  Heliotr opium,  Tribulus,  Coreopsis,  Pancratium,  Crinum,  Sfc. ; 
the  leaves  of  these  various  genera  becoming  more  thick  and  fleshy  as  they  approximate 
the  sea.  Convolvuli  with  succulent  leaves  and  with  large  red*  and  white^  flowers, 
creep  around  on  the  sand,  mingling  themselves  with  the  Dolichos  roseus  of  Swartz'',  so 
conspicuous  for  its  immense  pods  and  lovely  pale  purple  blossom. 
'  However,  in  Ur.  Fernandina  we  find  the  size  to  vary  considerably,  as  also  the  number  of  transverse  golden 
green  lines  on  the  upper  wings. 
^  Oviedo,  in  his  admirable  '  Coronica  de  las  Indias,'  describes  this  tree  under  the  Indian  name  of  Guiabara, 
and  gives  even  a  good  figure  of  one  of  the  leaves,  which,  he  says,  being  written  on  with  a  pin  or  needle,  often 
served  the  first  Spanish  settlers  instead  of  paper.  The  leaf  of  the  Copey  (Clusia.  rosea,  Linn.),  another  sea -side 
tree,  serves  this  purpose  still  better,  as  it  will  preserve  the  writing  for  years. 
'  Chrysobalanus  Icaco,  Linn.,  from  the  fruit  of  which,  or  sea-side  Plum,  a  favourite  sweetmeat  is  made  in 
Cuba,  and  exported  under  the  name  of  '  Dulce  de  Icaco.'  The  fruit  itself  is  insipid,  but  the  kernel  has  an  ex- 
quisite flavour. 
^  Convolvulus  Brasiliensis,  Linn.,  or  the  Aguinaldo  de  la  playa  of  the  Spaniards. 
'  Convolvulus  repcns,  Jacq.  ^  Canavalia  rosea,  De  Cand, 
