This is a region of magnificent butterflies. In the neighbourhood of
Para alone seven hundred species have been found. Many seldom leave the
shady paths which pierce the forests; others, however, occasionally come
forth into the broad sunlight and more open glades. See the slender
Morpho menelaus, with splendid metallic blue wings seven inches in
expanse, flapping them as does a bird as it flies along.
Far surpassing it, however, is the Morpho rhetenor; which, conscious of
its beauty, revels in the sunlight, but seldom ventures nearer than
twenty feet from the ground. So dazzling a lustre have the upper wings
of this butterfly, that when it flaps them occasionally, and the blue
surface flashes in the sunlight, it may be seen a quarter of a mile off.
Another species of the same genus has a satiny white hue; but, infinite
as they are in number, so most diversified are they in their habits,
mode of flight, colours, and markings. Some are yellow, others bright
red, green, purple, and blue. Many are bordered or spangled with
metallic lines and spots of a silvery or golden lustre. Some have wings
transparent as glass.
One of these (the Hetaira esmeralda) is especially beautiful, having an
opaque spot on its wings, of a violet and rose hue; and as this is the
only part visible when the insect is flying low over the dead leaves of
the darker recesses of the forest--where it is alone found--it looks
like the wandering petal of a flower.
Of moths, too, there are great numbers,--among them, the Erebus strix,
the largest of its family, sometimes measuring nearly a foot in expanse
of wing. In the open sunny spots the bright air is often alive with
superb dragonflies. Upwards of one hundred species are found near Para.
Some live only in the gloom of the forest. Often, however, they are
the most beautiful, being more brightly coloured and delicate in
construction than the others. Many delight to flit over the igarapes
and calm pools.
Among these, the Chalcopteryx rutilans has four wings, each
transparent,--while the hind-wings, of a dark colour, glitter with a
violet and golden effulgence. They all wage unceasing war against the
day-flying insects. When one is captured, the dragon-fly retires to a
tree, and there, seated on a branch, devours the body at its leisure.
It is wonderful the number of flies which these beautiful insects
destroy. When evening comes on they eagerly fly off to the chase, amid
the swamps and around the tree-tops, or wherever their victims
congregate.