Under Side. Palpi white. The sides of the thorax spotted with white. Anterior wings, next the body, of a reddish chocolate; but near the tips, of a dirty olive. The large and small white spots appear here as on the upper side; with three small angular white spots, close to the anterior margin, near the middle. Along the external edge, is a row of white crescents on a black border; over which are six small, round, faint, white spots. Posterior wings, next the body, of a dirty olive; but toward their external edges, more of a chocolate, with a broad central white bar running entirely across the wing, with a small angular black mark, near the anterior margin. Along the external edges, is a row of white crescents; above which is a row of small white triangular spots, placed two and two, between the crescents. Above this, six small round white spots are placed in a row.
The flight of this species is said by Drury to be exceedingly quick and rapid, so that it is very difficult to catch them, and hence they are seldom obtained in fine condition, being generally secured in a faded state when they are taken with more ease. The purple tint upon the upper side of the wings is most intense, and when the insect flies in the sun, glancing before the eye of the observer at a little distance (for it is by no means a timid creature), the vivid purple, observes Drury, is not much less than the electrical spark, and its changes depending on the degree of obliquity which it presents to the sun, are scarcely less rapid.
NYMPHALIS IPHICLA.
Plate [XIV]. fig. 3, 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Swains.
Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. God. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.), Linn. Fabr. God.
Nymphalis Iphicla. Alis denticulatis, supra fuscis, fasciá communi albâ antrorsùm rotundatâ, retrorsùm acuminatâ; anticis suprà maculâ apicis, et auguli analis, ferrugineis. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 9 lin.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Iphicla, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 380.
Papilio (N. P.) Iphicla, Drury, App. v. 2. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 135. 417. Cramer, pl. 188. fig. E. F. (var.?)
Papilio Basilea, Cram. pl. 188. fig. D. (♂).