Lizars sc.
1. Urania Sloanus. 2. Urania Leilus. W. Indies. Surinam.
URANIA LEILUS.
PLATE XXIX. Fig. 2.
Pap. Leilus, Linn. Fabr. Cramer, Pl. 85, fig. C, D; Merian’s Surinam. Ins. Pl. 29.—Urania Leilus, Fabr. Syst. Gloss.—Leilus Surinamensis, Swainson. Zool. Illus. Pl. 125.—Le Page de Cayenne, Daubenton, Pl. enlum. 71, fig. 1.
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.
PLATE 30.
