Linnjeus in his defeription of this .irtfeft obferveSj 
that the blue on the upper furface is fo polifhed and 
lively that fcarce any other natural objedl can come 
in competition with it. On the contrary the under 
furface of the fame animal exhibits an example of a 
fpecies of beauty refulting from a varied combination 
of the plaineft and moft fober colours ; the ground 
colour being brown flightly flreaked with higher 
fhades, and marked by feveral very large, ocellated 
ferruginous fpots with dark rings and white pupils. 
If it were not almoft bordering on temerity to 
attempt a reafon for this ilriking difference between 
the two fu'rfaccs of the fame infect, one might fup- 
pofe that this fobriety of colouring on the lower 
lidc, is intended in fome meafure to fecure the ani¬ 
mal when fitting at reil, with its wings clofed, from 
the depredations of birds, which are lefs likely to 
be attra&ed in this Hate than by the full luftre of its 
expanded plumage. 
It is a native of South America, arid proceeds 
from a large yellow caterpillar, befet with black 
fpincj. 
/ 
