Volume Ii Part 11 (1/2)

Much might be said on the affinities which connect this with several other genera. Among the most striking is that existing between them and the _Noctuae_ (_N. Patroclus_ Fab.) by means of _Pap. Leilus_ Lin. which thus stands between the night and the day-flying Lepidoptera. Many of the insects placed in our division of _Graeci caudati_, are allied to _Danaus_ Lat. by the larva of both having retractile hornshaped processes, and the two genera seem still further connected by _Papilio similis_ and _dissimilis_ in one group, and by _P. Priamus_ in the other; while the clear winged species from New Holland seem to indicate an affinity with the _Heliconiae_.

The laborious and important investigations of M. Savigny into the structure of the mouth of these insects are too well known, to require a more particular notice in this slight sketch of the subject.

PAPILIO Polymetus.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_P. (Trojani orbiculares) alis atris; superis fascia breviori (foeminae alba) antice alba, postice cyanea, inferis dentatis, macula coccinea quadripart.i.ta._

Papilio (T. orb.) wings black, superior, with a short white band, which is blue at the base (in the female entirely white); inferior dentated, with a four cleft crimson spot.

Papilio Polymetus. _G.o.dart in Ency. Meth._ vol. ix. p. 35. _no._ 28.

First described by M. G.o.dart; unless, indeed, it may hereafter prove a variety of _P. Lycander_ (Cramer, Pl. 29. C. D.) which approaches as near to the male, as _P. Hippason_ does to the female. The first s.e.x is here represented at the upper and under figures; the middle is of the female, which M. G.o.dart has not described. It is a native of Brazil; I found it at Bahia only in certain woods, and subsequently met with a variety in the province of Rio Janeiro, differing only in being much larger.

Pl. 93

[Ill.u.s.tration]

PAPILIO Pandrosus.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_P. (G. Caud.) alis atris, fascia communi posticarumque lunulis marginalibus flavis; his caudatis, punctorum rubrorum striga intermedia._ G.

_Pap. (G. Caud.)_ wings black; with the common band and marginal lunules on the lower wings, yellow; lower wings with obtuse tails, and a row of red dots between the nerves.--_G.o.dart._

Pap. Pandrosus. _G.o.dart. En. Meth._ _vol._ ix. _p._ 62. _No._ 101.

M. G.o.dart has antic.i.p.ated me in the first publication of this, and a great many other newly discovered Brazilian insects; it has, however, not been figured; and I take this opportunity of expressing my doubts, whether this and the next are not s.e.xes of the same species, rather than two, permanently distinct. I have not, at this particular time, the means of referring either to my notes or my collections, by which the recollection I have on the subject might be in some way confirmed; and, until this is done, it is much better retaining the two insects as distinct species: the figures of both will show their very close resemblance, in every thing but the bands on the upper surface of the wings. I found them common in the province of Rio de Janeiro.

Pl. 94

[Ill.u.s.tration]

PAPILIO Torquatus.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.