Part 9

Brazil. China.]

PAPILIO ASCANIUS.

PLATE III. Fig. 1.

Fabr. Drury’s Exot. Insects, iii. Pl. ix. fig. 1; Cramer, Pl. xiv. fig. A.

This insect may be regarded as the type of another South American group, somewhat allied to the preceding in general appearance, and in the distribution of colours, but presenting at the same time considerable differences. The length of the hinder wings is proportionally much greater, and each of them has a pretty long spatula-shaped tail. In the species figured, the wings are deep-black above, inclining to brown on the under side; the superior pair with a broad transverse white band, crossed by black nervures, and surmounted by a white arch, or two or three small white spots at the extremity of the discoidal cell. The hinder wings are likewise traversed by a wide band, frequently deeply notched or palmate, white anteriorly, and tinged with carmine behind; beyond which there is a series of narrow, slightly lunate, red spots parallel with the margin; tail of moderate length, black: body black, with red spots on the sides of the breast and abdomen.

This beautiful butterfly is not uncommon in the northern regions of Brazil, but it becomes scarce in the south.

PAPILIO PARIS.

PLATE III. Fig. 2.

Linn. Fabr. Drury’s Ins. Pl. xii. fig. 1; Cramer, Pl. 103, A, B; Boisd. Spec. gen. p. 208.

P. Ulysses, Perianthus, Bianor, Polyctor (Boisd.), Blumer (Boisd.), Crino, Palinurus, Paris, and Arjuna, form a very natural group of butterflies, distributed over the eastern parts of the continent of Asia, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. The great breadth of the wings and tail, combined with the general darkness of their colours, give them a somewhat heavy appearance, but this is often in some degree relieved by great richness of decoration. They are occasionally ornamented with patches of very brilliant azure-blue, and nearly all of them are sprinkled with shining points of golden-green, making the surface appear as if powdered with gold-dust. The species figured as an example is a native of China, and is often received in collections from that country, although it does not appear to be very common. In many cabinets a closely allied species stands for this, which is so similar that the two may easily be confounded. The species alluded to is Pap. Arjuna, a native of Java, accurately described by Dr. Horsfield; but although now regarded as distinct, it may ultimately prove to be a mere local variety. Godart confounds three species, conceiving that P. Bianor was the female of P. Paris, and P. Arjuna a variety. The extension of the wings in P. Paris is about four inches; the surface dark-brown, powdered with particles of golden-green, which are condensed into two or three spots near the extremity of the inner border of the upper wings: the under wings have, towards the middle, a large patch of very brilliant azure-blue, sinuated posteriorly, where it is on a line with a series of spots formed by the union or condensation of the minute golden atoms; the anal angle with an ocellated spot having a red iris surmounted by a very narrow violet arc: tail black: under side brown, sprinkled with grey particles, which are so condensed towards the apex of the upper wings as to form a broad transverse band, interrupted by dark nervures: under wings with a posterior row of seven ocelliform spots, dark in the centre and having a yellowish-red iris, divided anteriorly by a slender violet arc: body black, powdered with particles, in the same manner as the wings.

The female differs only in the ground colour being a little darker, and in having a transverse ray of condensed particles, which reaches from the internal border nearly to the middle.

The caterpillar is probably very similar to that of P. Arjuna, described by Dr. Horsfield.

PAP. PROTESILAUS.

PLATE IV. Fig. 1.

Linn. Fabr. Cramer, Pl. 202, fig. A, B; Merian’s Insec. Surin. Pl. 43.

The two insects delineated on the adjoining plate exemplify a form which prevails among a pretty extensive group of the genus Papilio, and which is familiar to European entomologists as represented in a very characteristic manner by the beautiful P. Podalirius. The prolongation of the hinder wings into a long narrow tail is the most striking feature, and has caused them to be termed swallow tails. The ground colour is for the most part pale,--light yellow, or green,--and the wings are marked with numerous transverse stripes of dark brown or black. They are not confined to any particular country, but are distributed over most regions of the globe, although the greatest number are found in Brazil and other parts of America. P. Protesilaus is one of the most common inhabiting the country just named. It expands nearly four inches; surface pale white, almost transparent, tinged with green at the base of the superior wings; the latter having seven narrow transverse black bands commencing at the anterior margin, the innermost five very short, the sixth descending to the internal angle, where it unites with the seventh, which runs along the margin: inferior wings black at the hinder extremity, that colour divided by two rows of large lunules of the ground colour, the anal angle with a bright transverse spot of carmine-red; tail very long and narrow, bordered with white, and having before its base two or three greyish-blue spots, composed of minute particles. On the under side the most remarkable differences are, that the two interior bands are prolonged to the anal angle, where they unite, and the outer one is bordered on one of its sides with a stripe of carmine: body whitish, with a broad black stripe along the back, another on the sides, and three along the belly.

PLATE 4.

1. Papilio Protesilaus. 2. Pap. Sinon. Brazil. Jamaica.

Lizars sc.]

PAPILIO SINON.

PLATE IV. Fig. 2.

Fabr. Cramer, Pl. 317, fig. C, D, E, F.--Herbst. Pap. Pl. 44, fig. 5, 6.--Pap. Protesilaus, Drury, vol. i. Pl. 22, fig. 3, 4.

Considerably less than the preceding, the space between the tips of the wings seldom exceeding three inches; wings black, with pale coloured bands slightly tinged with green; viz. two towards the base, extending across both wings, the third very slender and short, the fourth forming a pretty broad central stripe bifid anteriorly, and terminating in a point near the middle of the hinder wings; beyond this are two transverse spots or rudimentary bands anteriorly, and lastly a macular one of rounded spots parallel with the hinder margin; the latter likewise extends along the hinder wings, the spots assuming a crescent shape; anal angle marked with an oblique vermilion spot; tail long, linear, and black. Under side brown, the design corresponding to that on the surface, but having a narrow stripe of red near the middle, placed in a dark band and edged with white on the anal angle: body black, with two white streaks on the thorax, the abdomen ringed with white above, and greyish-white beneath.

Inhabits Jamaica, Florida, and various parts of South America.

PLATE 5.

1. Leptocircus Curius. 2. Thais Medesicaste. 1 Java. 2 Europe &c.

Lizars sc.]

LEPTOCIRCUS CURIUS.