and the only way therefore to obtain good specimens, is to feed the caterpillar. "Great numbers of this insect," says Mr. Swainson, speaking of a species almost the exact counterpart of U. Leilus, "were flying during the whole of the morning, past Aqua Fria (Pernambuco) in a direction from north to south: not one deviated from this course, notwithstanding the flowers which were growing around: they flew against the wind, which blew rather strong, and near the ground, but mounted over every tree or other high object which lay in their course; yet their flight was so rapid, that I could not capture a single specimen. They went singly, and near fifty or sixty must have passed the spot opposite the window before mid- day: they continued to pass for three or four days in this manner. 12th June 1817[1]."
The present genus differs from Urania in the perfect insect having three distinct tails at the hinder extremity of the posterior wings; neither are these wings so much elongated as in the group just named. The differences between them in their early states will be seen by comparing the following descriptions.
- ↑ Zoological Illustrations, 126.
