Passing from the Ornithoptera, which may be esteemed the chiefs and princes of their race, we now come to the Papilios, properly so called, some of which are scarcely inferior in their dimensions and imposing aspect. Such, at least, is the case with P. Antimachus and P. Antenor, which besides their large size, partake of some of the other characters of the group just referred to, and thus form the passage from it to Papilio. But the great majority are of very inferior size, and many of them so dissimilar in aspect that they might be thought to afford sufficient distinctions for arranging them in numerous different genera. On a close examination, however, the species are found to be so intimately allied in all essential parts of structure, that the most judicious systematists have not attempted to separate them. Such authors as have followed an opposite course, Hubner for example, have proved by no means successful in establishing sub-divisions; and the only effect of such a proceeding is to encumber the subject with a number of generic names without eliciting a more philosophical arrangement, or one better adapted to aid the student. As at present constituted, the genus is compact and natural; and if it were broken up by attaching undue importance to very subordinate characters, no partial change would suffice; for any principle that might be thought to justify the establishment of one genus, would render it necessary, if consistently acted upon, to create not fewer than thirty or forty. One of the most obvious differences among the species is the presence or absence of a tail; but an arrangement founded on this circumstance, separates, by a wide interval, kinds which are in other respects most closely allied. Nay, the tail itself is often more or less developed in the same species, being sometimes distinct in the one sex while it is inconspicuous or wanting in the other; its value as a diagnosis of genera is thus in a great measure destroyed.

Considerable differences likewise prevail in the appearance of the caterpillars, but these are too imperfectly known to be made the groundwork of an arrangement, even if they were likely to be available for such a purpose by indicating natural groups or affording additional means of characterising them. “Some of them,” says Dr. Boisduval, “such as those of Machaon, Alexanor, Asterias, are cylindrical and smooth; others (Crassus, Philenor), are protected with rather long fleshy prominences; in a very great number (Pammon, Memnon, Chalchas, &c.) the two first segments are attenuated, and capable of being retracted under the third and fourth, which are dilated and often ornamented with ocular spots analogous to those presented by many of the Sphingides; others are short and thick, and furnished with numerous rather short fleshy points; finally, there are some (Podalirius, Ajax, Antiphates) which somewhat resemble snails in shape. The caterpillars of Papilio may be distinguished from those of other genera belonging to the same tribe by the following characters:—They differ from those of Ornithoptera in their retractile tentaculum not being enclosed in two exterior cases; from those of Thais, in the projections which they sometimes present being never hispid at the extremity; and from those of Parnassius, in the body being always free from pubescence; but it is more particularly from the characters drawn from the chrysalis and perfect insect that this last genus is distinguished from Papilio29.”

The perfect insects are characterised by very short palpi not passing beyond the eyes, all the joints very indistinct, the third quite invisible; antennÆ pretty long, the club slightly curved upwards; abdomen pretty large, the anal valves in the male of moderate size; wings rather strong, the inferior pair having the abdominal margin folded upwards and leaving the abdomen free, their exterior border more or less dentated, and often prolonged posteriorly into a tail.

According to the above definition, the genus comprehends rather upwards of 220 species. They are distributed over almost every quarter of the globe, but are by far most abundant in intertropical countries. They are more numerous in the new continent than the old, but the difference is by no means considerable. In the former, Brazil alone produces between forty and fifty species; in the latter, the greatest number occur in the islands of the Indian Archipelago, already referred to as the native country of the magnificent Ornithoptera. The continental parts of India, China, Java, &c. likewise possess many fine species, and a few are found in New Holland. Europe is exceedingly poor in insects belonging to this group, there being only four indigenous kinds. These are P. Xuthus, P. Alexanor, P. Machaon, and P. Podalirius; the two latter, which are the most common, are well known to extend to Britain.

The first species selected to exemplify one of the prevailing forms of this important genus, is

PAPILIO MEMNON.
PLATE II. Fig. 1.

The upper wings in this species expand about five inches; they are blackish and marked with numerous longitudinal rays of a greyish-ash colour, each of them having a large blood-red or ochrey-yellow triangular patch at the base. The inferior wings are waved on the hinder margin, and narrowly edged with white in the emarginations, the disk almost entirely occupied by a broad white band divided by the dark nervures, the hinder portion dusky with a series of deep-black spots of an ovate or rounded form, that placed on the anal angle smaller than the rest and encircled with fulvous, which colour extends to the extremity of the internal border; on the under side they are spotted with red or ochre-yellow at the base: body black, the prothorax marked with several white points.

The above description applies to one of the female varieties of P. Memnon, which was usually regarded as a distinct species and known by the name of Agenor. Indeed it is so unlike the male, that authors would probably never have thought of associating them, had they not been reared from the same description of caterpillar. The male is entirely without the basal red spot, and the dark ground colour has a greenish reflection; the upper wings have a red or ochreous spot at the base on the under side, and there are likewise four small red marks on the same part of the inferior wings: the latter are deep black anteriorly and cinereous behind; the cinereous portions containing two rows of deep black rounded spots, that next the anal angle encircled with yellow. P. Androgeos of Cramer (pl. 91, A. B.) is a variety of this sex, while the P. Anceus, and P. Laomedon, of the same iconographist are varieties of the female.

The caterpillar, which feeds on the different kinds of Citrus, is described by Dr. Horsfield as of a green colour, with an ocelliform lateral mark on the third segment, and a transverse white band; a band of pale green between the fourth and fifth segments, and an oblique white stripe on the eighth and ninth; the anal segment likewise of that colour. The anterior part of the body is considerably attenuated, similar to what is observed in the caterpillars of many of the Hawkmoths. Chrysalis green, reddish-yellow on the back.

This insect is found in China, and the islands of the Indian Ocean, and is rather a common species.

PAPILIO ÆNEAS.
PLATE II. Fig. 2.

We have figured this insect as characteristic of a pretty extensive group of butterflies inhabiting South America, distinguished by a peculiar outline, and a certain similarity of design in the markings. The space between the tips of the anterior wings always exceeds by more than one half the space between the anterior edge of these wings and the hinder margin of the posterior pair; that is to say, the width of the insect, with its wings expanded, is more than double its length. The ground colour of the wings is generally deep black, with one or two insulated patches of some light colour on the disk of the anterior pair, and a large blood-red patch in the middle of the hinder wings; the latter deeply dentated on the margin, but without a tail. In P. Æneas the upper wings expand about three inches and a quarter: they are velvet-black, becoming lighter towards the apex, with a pretty large green spot, of a somewhat quadrangular shape, towards the interior border, surmounted by three smaller ones of an obscure white. Inferior wings likewise velvet-black, with a large discoidal patch, deep red anteriorly and carmine behind intersected by dark nervures; posterior margin with obtuse unequal dentations, the notches margined with red. Under side of the inferior wings with five oval, rose-coloured spots, placed in an irregular transverse line. Body black, the sides of the breast spotted with red.

The insect regarded as the female of this species differs greatly from the above: the wings are more rounded at the apex, and there is only a single spot, of shining green, on the upper pair: the notches of the hinder wings bordered with white.

This butterfly is found in greatest plenty in Surinam, but it likewise occurs in other quarters of South America.

The other species belonging to this group, easily recognised by their peculiar facies, are, P. Opleus, Hippason, Euristeus, Polymetus, Jacinthus, Eurymas, Eurymedes, Echelus, Ariarathes, Marcius, Numa (Boisd.), Coelus (Lacordair), Arbates, Anchises, Dimas, Iphidamas, Arcas, and a few others.

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.30 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.31

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.

PAPILIO SINON.
PLATE IV. Fig. 2.

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.

LEPTOCIRCUS CURIUS.
PLATE V. Fig. 1.

This genus was first proposed by Mr. Swainson for the reception of a remarkable insect from Siam and Java, to which various situations had been assigned by different naturalists. In external aspect it has all the appearance of an Erycina, but, on examining the disposition of the nervures of the wings, the form of the palpi and antennÆ, together with the structure of the feet, which are all complete in both sexes, its close affinity to the true Papiliones becomes apparent. The head and body are very thick; abdomen short; eyes large and salient; palpi very short, the articulations very indistinct; antennÆ rather long, thickening at the extremity into a club which is slightly curved upwards. The anterior wings are nearly hyaline, and have the discoidal cell closed; the posterior folded longitudinally, and each drawn out into a very long tail curved at the extremity. The expansion of the wings, in the only known species, is about an inch and a half; the inner half of the superior pair black, traversed in the middle by a pretty broad green band; the exterior portion, consisting of a large triangular space, transparent, with the nervures and external border black. The inferior wings are black, edged externally with white, and having a central blue band in continuation of the anterior one. On the under side, the base of all the wings is whitish, and the abdominal margin of the under pair is marked with three curved white streaks: abdomen whitish beneath, and having a double row of black dots on each side. In the female the bands on the wings are white.

A few years ago this curious butterfly was to be found in very few cabinets, but it is now received not unfrequently.

THAIS MEDESICASTE.
PLATE V. Fig. 2.

The genus Thais is confined to the southern countries of Europe, the north of Africa, and Asia Minor. All the species are of moderate size, and may at once be known by the peculiar design of the colouring of the wings, which are always yellow spotted with red and black, and bordered externally with a dark festooned line. The palpi are composed of three nearly equal articulations, and rise conspicuously above the head; the antennÆ rather short and terminating in a club slightly curved upwards. The body is slender, and the abdominal margin of the hinder pair of wings is curved downwards as if to leave room for the movements of the abdomen. The caterpillars are short and cylindrical, covered with fleshy spines and short hairs, the first segment provided with a fleshy bifurcated tentaculum. They live solitarily or in small groups on the Aristolochia, and obviously bear a considerable analogy, as well as the perfect insect, to Parnassius. The chrysalis is cylindrico-conic, somewhat angular in front.

The species represented on the annexed plate may possibly be a variety of T. Rumina. Surface pale ochreous yellow, with a black marginal band divided on the upper wings by a series of eight or nine yellow spots; along the costal margin are several black irregular transverse bands, some of them inclosing rounded red spots; inferior wings with a black festooned line along the exterior border; towards the base are always three red spots, one near the abdominal margin, another in the upper part of the discoidal cell, and a third near the anterior edge, usually united in the form of a transverse band with that in the cell. Body blackish, marked with rows of fulvous spots.

The caterpillar lives on the Aristolochia pistolochia. Sometimes the colour is reddish-yellow, at other times brown or dull yellowish-green, with numerous rows of black lines often interrupted; the body bearing six rows of fleshy spines, of an orange yellow hue, and ciliated with black at the extremity.

The insect is found in Languedoc, in the neighbourhood of Digne, &c.

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