]96 
EMPEROn-MOTn. 
projecting barb on each side. The head is very 
small, and nearly concealed by the dense hairs tliat 
clothe the anterior part of the thorax ; and the rvings 
are very broad, extended horizontally when in a 
state of repose, and furnished 'ivith a fringe so short 
and imperfect as to be scarcely perceptible. The 
genus is not of very great extent, but it comprehends 
some of the most magnificent species yet known to 
naturalists. Such are S. atlas of Cliina, which 
frequently measures eight or ten inches across, and 
which the French name Porte -miroir, on account of 
a large transparent vitreous mark in the centre of 
each wing ; and S. luna, a native of America, re- 
markable for its delicate green colour, and the tail- 
like elongation of its hinder wings. Another species 
is the Peacock ( S. Pavonia-major ), the wings of 
which sometimes expand upwards of six inches, and 
is therefore the lai'gest insect indigenous to Europe. 
The only species found in this country is the beauti- 
ful one represented on the accompanying plate. The 
female sometimes attains to upwards of three inches 
in the expansion of the wings, but the male seldom 
exceeds two and a half. The colour in both sexes 
is grejnsh, with numerous white sciilcs intermixed, 
and faintly tinged in several places Avith purple ; 
the hinder margin of all the >vings with a broad 
brownish- white band. Besides this there are two' 
transverse bands on each wing, one towards the 
base, somewhat abbreviated, and consisting of a 
white, purplish, and dark-brown stripe, the other 
placed behind the middle and very much waved. 
