Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/258

198 the anterior margin and forming a central band, the whole surface marked with orbicular black spots, which become larger posteriorly. Body black, fulvous beneath: antennæ wholly black.

The female is about one-third larger than the male, the anal mark larger and of a golden colour with little mixture of purple.

"This species," says M. Boisduval, who first completed the natural history of this insect by describing its various states and metamorphoses, "which may be considered as the most beautiful lepidopteron known, inhabits Madagascar. It has been once taken in Bourbon, whither the caterpillar had probably been transported accidentally. According to Cramer it is likewise found on the coast of Coromandel.

"The caterpillar lives on the Mangifera Indica. On first issuing from the egg, it is nearly smooth and of a greenish tint; after the first moult it assumes a black colour, becomes covered with spines, and protrudes at pleasure two rose-coloured retractile horns, placed on the first segment. Having attained its full size it is rather slender, dilated laterally towards the middle, and is about two or three inches long. On each side there is a festoon composed of many irregular bands of white, green, and yellow points: the horns, which were of a delicate rose-colour, become carmine-red; the first pair of membraneous legs becomes very short, almost rudimentary, and are of no use in walking; when in motion, therefore, it curves the centre of its body