James Duncan

As already mentioned, Urania is distinguished from all other groups, except Thaliura, by the shape of the antennÆ, and an obvious character for separating it from that is the presence of only a single tail. The palpi are short and project a little beyond the head, the terminal joint being nearly naked. The tibiÆ of the anterior legs are furnished with spines in the middle; and the claws are minute. When at rest the anterior wings are kept in a horizontal position, or but slightly turned upwards, one peculiarity among many others in which they resemble the nocturnal lepidoptera. We are indebted to Mr. Macleay for an account of the metamorphoses of a species which he has named U. FernandinÆ, but which is probably synonymous with some previously known. The caterpillar feeds on a kind of Omphalea which grows abundantly on the sea-coast of Jamaica. It never appears during the heat of the day, but reposes in a torpid state within a thin transparent web on the under side of the leaves, in order to avoid the rays of the sun. Its only time of feeding is during the night. In its appearance and habits it shows more affinity to the larvÆ of the BombycidÆ than to the diurnal Lepidoptera. When about to change to a chrysalis it spins an oval cocoon of yellow silk, the meshes of which are so lax as to allow the inmate to be easily seen. The pupa is not at all angular. “The perfect butterfly,” he adds, “is perfectly diurnal, and very swift in its flight. It is not found in the interior of the island, but it may be seen in plenty as far as two or even three leagues from the coast, sporting in the sun, and sucking the flowers of Cestrum diurnum, Ehretia tinifolia, and other odoriferous trees of small stature. In hot weather and about mid-day it flies particularly high, and may be even observed surmounting the tops of the highest members of the forest. In the afternoon I have often seen it sport about some capriciously chosen spot, such as a particular branch of Mango, where it would always return to alight on almost the same leaf, in a manner that has sometimes reminded me of a well known habit of the MusicapÆ. Thus does our insect spend whole hours until sunset, when the bats usually terminate its diversion and its life. On the approach of winter it may be seen at times alighting on hedges, when specimens are more easily captured. The flight, however, of U. FernandinÆ is always strong, and it starts like the FringillidÆ. When it alights on a leaf, all the four wings are expanded horizontally; and rarely, if ever, take a vertical position, like those of the species of the LinnÆan genus Papilio, when at rest38.”

URANIA SLOANUS.
PLATE XXIX. Fig. 1.

Godart.—Pap. Sloanus, Cramer, Pl. 85, fig. E, F.—Pap. Leilius, Var. Fabr.—Leilius Occidentalis, Swainson, Illus. Pl. 129.

Expands about two inches and a half or three inches; surface deep black; the upper wings each with six or seven transverse lines of golden green, and near the middle a band of that colour bifid (sometimes trifid) anteriorly. Under wings with a central band of bright coppery red, irregularly indented, the abdominal margin more or less gilded green; the tail black with a few emerald green spots. Design on the under side corresponding to that on the surface, the green paler. Body black above, with a dorsal line of golden green, and another on each side; brownish beneath.

This handsome species bears the name of the celebrated Sir Hans Sloane, the early historian of Jamaica, who figured it in his work (Pl. 239, fig. 11, 12). It is accounted a rare insect, and, we believe, has hitherto been found only in the West Indian Islands.

PLATE 29.

Lizars sc.

1. Urania Sloanus. 2. Urania Leilus. W. Indies. Surinam.

URANIA LEILUS.
PLATE XXIX. Fig. 2.

Larger than the preceding, frequently expanding four inches. Ground colour deep velvet black on both sides, the pictorial design on the upper wings nearly as in U. Sloanus, there being eight or nine slender transverse lines, slightly curved, of beautiful green, with a silky lustre, and the usual band near the middle sometimes divided into three or four ramifications as it approaches the costa. A band of light sericeous green likewise runs across the inferior wings, deeply indented on both sides, and often quite interrupted by transverse patches of the ground colour; the tail nearly white; the fringe pure white. Body thick and robust, especially in the females; black, rayed with emerald green.

This lovely insect appears to be pretty abundant in Surinam, as great numbers have been transmitted to this country.

Although the butterfly seems to occur so frequently, we are not aware that the caterpillar has been noticed by any competent observer since the time of Madam Merian, at least no notice of it has been published since. It was long suspected that her figure of it was unworthy of credit, but from what has been recently observed in relation to the larvÆ of kindred species (particularly that of T. Rhipheus), it now appears probable that her information was correct. Anomalies similar to those which characterise the perfect insects, likewise attend them in their previous state. They are covered with spines, as is the case among many of the NymphalidÆ, and they are provided with a retractile tentaculum as in Papilio. In the present instance the spines are remarkable for their length and rigidity, particularly those on the anterior and posterior segments.

RHIPHEUS DASYCEPHALUS.
PLATE XXX.

Urania Rhipheus, Var. Cramer, Godart.—Rhipheus Dasycephalus, Swainson, Zool. Illus. Pl. 131.

We have copied the accompanying figures from Drury’s work on exotic insects, in order that they may be compared with those represented on Plate XXVIII. It will at once be perceived that they present numerous points of agreement, as well as very obvious differences, and when every consideration is taken into account, it is not easy to say whether they ought to be regarded as distinct species, or merely varieties of the same. Drury states that his insect was brought from China, and when the drawing was taken, it was in the possession of Captain May of Hammersmith; in all probability, however, it is now lost. The antennÆ are described as black and knobbed at their extremities, and the hinder wings are without tails.

On the supposition that Drury’s figures accurately represent the insect as it appeared when alive, the only connexion which it has with Urania arises from the similar distribution of colours and neuration of the wings; in other respects it would be classed with the Papiliones. But this anomaly is certainly a remarkable one, that it should combine clavate antennÆ, with an arrangement of the alary nervures exactly corresponding to an insect with which in other respects it is so nearly identical. There being no other example of such a peculiarity, and the insect figured by Drury never having been found since, we are naturally led to suspect that he has been, in some way or other, under error. We have no doubt, however, that his figures afford a faithful representation of the specimen from which they were taken, as the drawings were made by Moses Harris, whose accuracy in such matters is well known. But there seems good reason to believe that the specimen in question has been originally defective, and that improper means have been taken to supply its deficiencies. By supposing that the head of a genuine papilio had been attached, in order to supply the want of that part in the specimen, and give it the appearance of being complete (a practice which has often been followed by amateur collectors), we get rid of the greatest objection to its being considered identical with Rhipheus. The want of the tails is easily accounted for, these appendages being so brittle when dry, that they are seldom preserved except in specimens which have received the utmost care. In other instances Drury has erroneously represented species as destitute of tails; we recollect in particular Satyrus Philoctetes. We mention these circumstances as affording means by which it is possible to account for the peculiarities presented by Drury’s figure; but it is likely that different opinions will be held on the subject. The following are Mr. Swainson’s observations:—“If the imagination was taxed to invent, or to concentrate into one figure all that was splendid, lovely, or rare in the insect world, Nature would far exceed the poor invention of man by the production of this incomparably splendid creature; its rarity also is so great, that but one specimen has ever been seen. It is not, however, on this account only that we have been induced to copy this figure, but because its illustration will clear up one of the most intricate and perplexing questions that has hitherto impeded the natural arrangement of the LinnÆan Papiliones, and even of the whole order of the Lepidoptera.

“The error of Cramer regarding Rhipheus has already been rectified. It will now be demonstrated that not only are the two insects distinct as species, but that they actually belong to different genera; Cramers being a Urania of Fabricius and Latreille, while Drury’s is a Papilio of the same authors. This is proved by the figures, and confirmed by the following words of Drury :—‘The antennÆ are black, and knobbed at their extremities,’ in other words, clavate; while the palpi, as expressed in the figure, are so small as not to project beyond the head, where they lie hid among the frontal hairs; this also being a typical distinction of the Latreillian Papiliones. The figures in Drury’s work were all drawn and engraved by Moses Harris, well known as one of the most accurate artists that ever lived; as a remarkable proof of this, we find that he has not failed to delineate that peculiar neuration of the anterior wings which belongs only to the types of Leilus. A closer affinity therefore between Papilio and Leilus cannot possibly be imagined; while its remarkable hairy front points out its analogy, as an aberrant type in its own genus, to Chlorisses among insects, and Dasycephala among birds. So true it is that the natural system ‘illuminates with a flood of light’ every supposed anomaly, and reconciles facts apparently the most inexplicable39.”

FINIS.