Acacia foliis amplioribus; siliquis cincinnatis.
In the Bahama Islands these Trees grow to about fifteen
Inches in Thickness, and thirty or more Feet in Height; with a rough
brown Bark: The Leaves are like those of the Phillirea, growing
by Pairs. The Flowers are globular, composed of numerous scarlet
Filaments, produced from small green Capsula's; many of the
Flowers grow together on long Footstalks, at the Ends of slender
Branches, making an elegant Appearance. The Flowers are succeeded
by Pods, of a reddish brown Colour, containing many flatish round
shining black Seeds, which when ripe are discharged from out of
the Pods, but hang thereto by a scarlet mucilaginous, spongy Substance,
which incloses a third Part of every Seed: The Pods grow three or
four together, in a wreathed or spiral Manner, which Nature seems
to have designed for displaying its Beauties to Advantage; for had
the Pods been streight, as those of French Beans, these glittering
Seeds would have been much obscured. The Seeds are Food of Wild
Pigeons, &c.
Papilio diurna, prima, omnium maxima.
The Body of this Fly is yellow and black, the Eyes spherical, it
is eight Inches from the Extremity of one upper Wing to the other,
which are pointed, as are likewise the Bottom of the under Wings:
The Edges of the four Wings are indented, except the upper Margin
of each Pair: The Area or Ground of the four Wings is of a Brimstone
Colour: The anterior Margins of the upper Wings are verged with
Black, having several Strips or Lifts running transversly cross
the Wings, from which run many black Lines; the under Part of all
four Wings are deeply verged with black, and spotted with yellow
Crescents; the Verges of the lower Wings having also some round
blue Spots.
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