  NYMPHALIS ERITHONIUS.Plate XV. fig. 1, 2. Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: NymphalidÆ, Swains. Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. God. Papilio (Dan. Festivi), Linn. Drury. Nymphalis Medon. Alis dentatis, supra fuscis; anticis utrinque fasci obliqu luteÂ, apice albo; posticis fasci violaceo-coerulescenti, singulis subtÙs punctis tribus. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 7 lin.) Syn. Papilio (Nymph.) Erithonius, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 82. No. 255. Latr. & God. Enc. MÉth. ix. p. 390. No. 142. (Nymphalis Er.) Papilio (Dan. Festivi) Eupalus, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 48. No. 148. Papilio Harpalyce, Cram. pl. 145. fig. D. E. Papilio (Equ. Achiv.) Medon, Drury, App. vol. 2. (Exclus. Syn. Linn. & Fabr.) Habitat: Sierra Leone. Upper Side. AntennÆ black, lighter at the tips. Head black. Thorax and abdomen dark brown. Anterior wings dark red brown, tipped with white; but next the shoulders of a purplish hue, with a dark yellow streak near the tips, extending obliquely from the anterior towards the external edge. Posterior wings also red brown; but towards the middle and shoulders of a purplish blue, which they reflect more or less according to the position they are held in. Under Side. Palpi and breast yellow. Anterior wings olive brown, tipped with white; but along the external edges of a hazel colour, and near the shoulders having three round black spots on each. Posterior wings similar to the anterior, being of a brown olive, variegated, and clouded, with three small spots placed near the shoulders, as in the superior ones. All the wings are a little dentated. There are several African species closely allied to the present insect, which was regarded by Drury as the Medon of LinnÆus. I have followed the EncyclopÉdie MÉthodique in rejecting this reference; although it will be seen that the LinnÆan description of that insect, "alis supra nigris primoribus fascia lutea apiceque albo; posticis disco coerulescentibus," does not disagree with the character of this insect. According to Mr. Smeathman this species was taken at some distance inland upon the continent of Africa; adding, "there are several Papiliones nearly of this colour, that is to say, with the upper sides of the wings having a changeable purple, and the under sides being inclinable to green, sometimes with marks of the most beautiful crimson. The differences between them arise so gradually, that he thinks them varieties of the same species, some, apparently very different, being found coupled together. They are all found congregating in the paths, and in the thick shade of a forest, ten or a dozen in a circle round a little puddle or moist spot, and seem to like the most gloomy places." HESPERIA IPHIS.Plate XV. fig. 3, 4. Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: HesperiidÆ, Steph. Genus. Hesperia, Latr. God. Papilio (Pleb. Urbic.) Linn. &c. Hesperia Iphis. Alis supra viridi-atris; infra aureo-virescentibus venis margineque postico nigris, capite sanguineo. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc.) Syn. Papilio (Pleb. Urb.) Iphis, Drury, App. vol. 2. Hesperia (Urb.) Jupiter, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 336. No. 279. Enc. MÉth. ix. p. 733. (Hesperia J.) Papilio Phidias, Cram. pl. 244. A. B. Habitat: Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Anamaboe, and the Bight of Benin, on the Coast of Africa. Upper Side. AntennÆ thickest in the middle. Head scarlet. Thorax and abdomen black. All the wings green brassy-coloured, the nerves black, those parts that surround the body being of a raven black. The tips of the anterior wings orange-coloured. Under Side. Palpi scarlet and hairy, the extremities being small and black. Breast, legs, sides, and abdomen black. Anus scarlet. Wings of a yellower brassy hue than on the upper side. Superior wings tipped with orange, but next the body greenish black; the same colour occupying the external edges of the posterior wings. The male differs in having the upper side entirely of a fine raven black without the orange tips; the under side is also darker, and less brassy than the female. Drury states, that when this insect is at rest it sits with its wings erect; and Mr. Smeathman considers it "very remarkable that this insect, which seems an intermediate species between Papilio and PhalÆna, associates with the little assemblages of Nymphalis Erithonius, and is frequently seen sipping water with them." |
|
