198 
THALIURA RHIPIIEUS. 
the anterior margin and forming a central band, the 
whole surface marked with orbicular black spots, 
which become larger posteriorly. Body black, ful- 
vous beneath : antenna.' wholly black. 
The female is about one-third larger than the 
male, the anal mark larger and of a golden colour 
with little mixture of purple. 
“ This species,” says M. Boisduval, who first 
completed the natural history of this insect by de- 
scribing its various states and metamorphoses, 
“ which may be considered as the most beautiful 
lepidopteron known, inhabits Madagascar. It has 
been once taken in Bourbon, whither the caterpillar 
had probably been transported accidentally. Ac- 
cording to Cramer it is likewise found on the coast 
of Coromandel. 
“ The caterpillar lives on the Mangi/era Indica. 
On first issuing from the egg, it is nearly smooth 
and of a greenish tint ; after the first moult it as- 
sumes a black colour, becomes covered with spines, 
and protrudes at pleasure two rose-coloured retrac- 
tile horns, placed on the first segment. Having 
attained its full size it is rather slender, dilated 
laterally towards the middle, and is about two or 
three inches long. On each side there is a festoon 
composed of many irregular bands of white, green, 
and yellow points : the horns, which were of a 
delicate rose-colour, become carmine-red; the first 
pair of membraneous legs becomes very short, almost 
rudimentary, and are of no use in walking; when 
in motion, therefore, it curves the centre of its body 
