T A B . V.
P A P I L I O E U B U L E .
A M E R IC A N B R IM S T O N E B U T T E R F L Y .
C A S S IA CH AM M -CR IS TA. L IN N .
D W A R F C'A S S I A.
. 3. D A N A I C A N D ID I.
P . D. alis integerrimis rotundatis lateis margine punCtis nigris: fubtus punCto gemino fer-
rugineo argenteo.
Papilio Etibule. Linn. Sy/l. Nat. 764. Fair. Entom. emend. V. 4. 209. Ora*. Paj>. t. 120. ƒ E. F. .
T he caterpillar feeds on this fpecies o f caffia. One o f them fpun itfe lf up th e 30th
o f Auguft, changed the next day, and th e perfect infect appeared September 10th.
Another fpun on the 23d o f September, changed th e 24th, and came o u t th e 6 th
o f October. This is n o t a common caterpillar, though found likewife in Virginia.
It is curious to obferve the conformity of colours between the flowers of this plant and
the fly bred upon it. We fhall have occalion to note other inftances of the fame kind, and
there are many of them throughout nature, In fome cafes thofe refemblances feem to anfwer
the purpofe of protection; as when a chryfalis refembles the bark to which it is fixed, or a
caterpillar the flower or leaf it feeds upon; but that purpofe feems not to be anfwered here.
Do fuch fimilarities of appearance, in ferving to exercife the attention and powers of diferi-
mination of animals deftined to devour the fly, or of others that feed upon the flower, thus
increafe the general fum of happinefs, in confequence of the employment of intellect and the
fuccefs of its exertion? Or thefe butterflies, perhaps, celebrating
" —---- their glad nuptials and unerivied loves,”
may find a peculiar charm in the colours of the flower before us, as refembling thofe, undoubtedly
moft attractive to their fancy, in which their own mates are attired. Thus they
are prompted to hover about it, and to lay their eggs on the very plant necefiary to the nou-
jrifhment of their young. One of the moft difficult things in nature to account for is that
unerring propenfity which infeCts, in their perfect ftate, have to depofit their eggs where the
future brood of caterpillars will find proper fuftenance, though they themfelves have no re-?
lifh for the fame food, and are often incapable of eating at all, during the laft tranfient ftate
of exiftence in which they propagate their fpecies. If it be poffible to obtain a clue in any
cafe o f this kind, it may lead to much curious and inftruCtive fpeculation; and whether any
immediate ufe to ourfelves be derived from it or not, we are fure that nothing which has
engaged the attention of the Eternal Infinite Mind can be unworthy the notice of any .of its
rational creatures. On the contrary, next to their higheft privilege, which is to be capable of
imitating its benevolence, their pureft enjoyments confift in contemplating the infinitely varied
operations of that benevolence, directed by unerring wifdom, through fpheres of being in
which they are not immediately concerned.
D