As already mentioned, _Urania_ is distinguished from all other
groups, except Thaliura, by the shape of the antennæ, and an obvious
character for separating it from that is the presence of only a single
tail. The palpi are short and project a little beyond the head, the
terminal joint being nearly naked. The tibiæ of the anterior legs
are furnished with spines in the middle; and the claws are minute.
When at rest the anterior wings are kept in a horizontal position,
or but slightly turned upwards, one peculiarity among many others in
which they resemble the nocturnal lepidoptera. We are indebted to
Mr. Macleay for an account of the metamorphoses of a species which
he has named _U. Fernandinæ_, but which is probably synonymous with
some previously known. The caterpillar feeds on a kind of _Omphalea_
which grows abundantly on the sea-coast of Jamaica. It never appears
during the heat of the day, but reposes in a torpid state within a thin
transparent web on the under side of the leaves, in order to avoid
the rays of the sun. Its only time of feeding is during the night.
In its appearance and habits it shows more affinity to the larvæ of
the Bombycidæ than to the diurnal Lepidoptera. When about to change
to a chrysalis it spins an oval cocoon of yellow silk, the meshes of
which are so lax as to allow the inmate to be easily seen. The pupa is
not at all angular. “The perfect butterfly,” he adds, “is perfectly
diurnal, and very swift in its flight. It is not found in the interior
of the island, but it may be seen in plenty as far as two or even three
leagues from the coast, sporting in the sun, and sucking the flowers of
_Cestrum diurnum_, _Ehretia tinifolia_, and other odoriferous trees of
small stature. In hot weather and about mid-day it flies particularly
high, and may be even observed surmounting the tops of the highest
members of the forest. In the afternoon I have often seen it sport
about some capriciously chosen spot, such as a particular branch of
Mango, where it would always return to alight on almost the same leaf,
in a manner that has sometimes reminded me of a well known habit of the
_Musicapæ_. Thus does our insect spend whole hours until sunset, when
the bats usually terminate its diversion and its life. On the approach
of winter it may be seen at times alighting on hedges, when specimens
are more easily captured. The flight, however, of _U. Fernandinæ_ is
always strong, and it starts like the _Fringillidæ_. When it alights
on a leaf, all the four wings are expanded horizontally; and rarely,
if ever, take a vertical position, like those of the species of the
Linnæan genus _Papilio_, when at rest[38].”