Plate IV. fig. 1, 2.

The female differs from the male in being somewhat larger in size, with the spots on the upper side of a brighter green colour, and with the marginal row of spots on the under side of the posterior wings of a pearly greyish hue, and with a tinge of this colour upon the disk of the wings. Cramer has figured the male as the female, and vice versa. Mr. Smeathman informed Mr. Drury that this insect feeds upon the orange and lime trees, about which the butterfly is always seen flying, considering it as remarkable that most of the insects which feed upon the orange or citron tribes, have some tinge of green upon them; in like manner the beautiful green snake, so common about Sierra Leone, is always to be found about these kind of trees. These circumstances led our author into a series of observations which, though upwards of half a century old, may still be read not only with pleasure, but with the hope of beneficial results.

"The particular qualities, dispositions, and uses of by far the greater part of insects, as well as of plants, are at present totally unknown to us, nor are the methods by which we are to acquire that knowledge at present ascertained.

"Their colours have hitherto been of no further use to us than merely to discriminate one genus or species from another; and yet it is possible that, by a combination of observations even on the colours of insects, we may form some ideas of their natures and properties.

"The observation of Mr. Smeathman, if well founded, supposing it did not lead to a discovery of the nature and properties of an insect itself, might at least indicate those of the plant on which it feeds. The various species of the Danai Candidi, among which are included the different white butterflies of Europe, feed chiefly on such plants as are reckoned not only nourishing, but salutary to the human body, such as the various species of cabbages, coleworts, turnips, &c. Every foreign country produces butterflies of that family; some of them so very like those of Europe, that it is a fair inference they feed on plants of a similar property. This is countenanced by many corroborating circumstances. The Papilio Iris, and the various Fritillary butterflies fly exceedingly swift; and it appears from Mr. Smeathman's observations, that foreign butterflies that bear a resemblance to them, also fly exceedingly swift. The green and golden Scarabei of this country are found to delight in flowers; those of the hot climates are also found on flowers; while the black, purple, and darker coloured Scarabei, are generally found frequenting the excrements of animals, and are, in every quarter of the globe, called Tumble dung-beetles, from their making balls of those substances, and rolling them to their holes. The locust tribes feed here chiefly on grasses and roots; so it appears they do in the torrid zone. Those of the torrid zone are found to be wholesome food. The inference is plain, that those of this climate, in case of necessity, or perhaps even as an article of luxury, might be found the same.

"The caterpillars of certain beetles, from his account, are the greatest delicacies of the hot regions. They might, in some degree, be found to be so here. The palm-worm of the West Indies, which is sought at a monstrous expense, is the caterpillar or maggot of a beetle, of the same genus with that small beetle, which is produced from the maggot or caterpillar in a hazel-nut or filberd. This is often eaten here, and esteemed by those who do so as more delicate than the nut itself.

"The Cantharides is a green beetle. A green beetle of our own, Cerambyx Moschatus, is found capable of raising blisters; and other green beetles may probably have the same effect.

"The butterflies that are found in the cultivated spots of Africa, have in shape and appearance a strong resemblance to many of ours, particularly the white ones. These seldom visit the thick woods; but, when seen in any number, are certain indications of neighbouring plantations. This observation might save the lives of bewildered travellers: as in some instances it might be dangerous to enter into a very large wood, or a thick part of it; in others again, immediate safety might be the consequence of leaving a forest, by following the indications of an open or cultivated spot. The analogy between the colours, the dispositions, and the qualities of insects, may yet be greater, and between insects, and the plants on which they feed, still more useful; for if an insect is found in one part of the world to feed on a plant useful in food, medicine, or manufactures, an insect of a similar appearance, in another part of the world, will in all probability be found to feed on a plant of similar virtues. We do not know but insects may affect, when perfect, to frequent different soils; or to visit the recesses, where valuable drugs remain hid from human search, and useless to mankind.

"As, however, observation and experience have demonstrated, through length of time, that useful hints may be drawn from very trivial properties in the smallest insects, it seems that none are unworthy of being noted. Future travellers may draw useful inferences from those now given, and may add to the number, for the benefit of those who follow after them. There can be no doubt that every species of insect has its use in the creation, and probably there are few from which mankind might not derive some advantage, if their nature and properties were ascertained. We know of a few direct methods, and must therefore in general wait with patience, till a variety of observations, such as Mr. Smeathman has given us, by being frequently compared, strike out new lights upon this part of science, and elucidate matters at this time buried in obscurity. The uses of many insects in the creation are obvious at the first sight: such, for instance, are those which feed on putrid animal or vegetable substances; while others promote the general good by such remote means, that we cannot immediately see to what end their operations verge. We are not therefore, however, to suppose them mere expletives in the great system of beings; neither are we rashly to attribute an importance to them which they do not deserve, or ridiculously affect to admire circumstances in them of little moment, and praise the Creator for dispositions of a secondary nature.

"When I recommend observations to be made on the most trivial circumstances, it will readily be conceived I do not wish to derogate from experiment, from which alone solid hopes are to be formed, and those which have been hitherto made give great encouragement. Mr. Reaumur has found that the moth, which feeds on clothes, refines the colour with which they are dyed in a wonderful manner; for the excrement of the animal is the colour of the cloth on which it is fed; and therefore, for miniature paintings, infinitely surpasses all others. How far this kind of experiment can be refined on, must be left to the curiosity and diligence of travellers and experimental philosophers, who may perhaps, in some part of the world, realize and improve this reasoning upon a large and useful scale."

MELITÆA CYTHERIS.

Plate IV. fig. 3, 4.

Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: NymphalidÆ, Swains.

Genus. MelitÆa, Fabr. Argynnis p. Ochs. Latr. & God. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Drury.

MelitÆa Cytheris. Alis supra fulvis nigro maculatis, subtus anticis fulvis apice fusco, strig albÂ, posticis fuscis strig discoidali maculÂque marginali albis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 3 lin.)

Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Ph.) Cytheris, Drury, App. vol. 2.

Habitat: Falkland Islands.