130 
THALIURA. 
and the only way therefore to obtain good specimens, 
is to feed the caterpillar. “ Great numbers of this 
insect,” says Mr. Swainson, speaking of a species 
almost the exact counterpart of U. Leilus, ‘ l were 
flying during the whole of the morning, past Aqua 
Fria (Pernambuco) in a direction from north to 
south : not one deviated from this course, notwith- 
standing the flowers which were growing around : 
they flew against the wind, which blew rather strong, 
and near the ground, but mounted over every tree 
or other high object which lay in their course ;*yet 
their flight was so rapid, that I could not capture 
a single specimen. They went singly, and near 
fifty or sixty must have passed the spot opposite the 
window before mid-day : they continued to pass for 
three or four days in this manner. 12th June 
1817*.” 
The present genus differs from Urania in the per- 
fect insect having three distinct tails at the hinder 
extremity of the posterior -wings ; neither are these 
wings so much elongated as in the group just named. 
The differences between them in their early states 
will be seen bv comparing the following descriptions. 
Zoological Illustrations, 126. 
