In butterflies I was rather more successful, obtaining several fine species quite new to me, and a considerable number of very rare and beautiful insects.

I will give here some account of two species of butterflies, which, though very common in collections, present us with peculiarities of the highest interest.
The first is the handsome Papilio memnon, a splendid butterfly of a deep black colour, dotted over with lines and groups of scales of a clear ashy blue.

Its wings are five inches in expanse, and the hind wings are rounded, with scalloped edges.

This applies to the males; but the females are very different, and vary so much that they were once supposed to form several distinct species.

They may be divided into two groups--those which resemble the male in shape, and, those which differ entirely from him in the outline of the wings.