Plate [XXIII]. fig. 3, 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Nymphalidæ, Swains.
Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. Papilio (Pleb. rur.), Drury.
Nymphalis Pyramus. Alis nigris (in mare supra violaceo-micantibus) anticis utrinque fasciâ latâ miniatâ: posticis subtus irroratis strigâque marginali cœrulescenti. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 7½ lin.)
Syn. Papilio Pyramus, Fabr. Sp. Ins. 2. 130. 590. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 323. 223.
Papilio (Pleb. rur.) Pyramus, Drury, App. vol. 3. Stoll Suppl. Cramer, pl. 32. f. 3. 3e. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 422. (Nymphalis P.) Donovan Nat. Repos. 1. t. 3. f. 2. 2.
Habitat: Brazil, "Rio Janeiro, Mr. Bonifas, 1774" (Drury's MSS.).
Upper Side. Antennæ brown. Thorax and abdomen dark brown. Anterior wings at the extremities black, but next the body red-brown, the middle being occupied by a band which crosses them of a beautiful red, extending to the middle of the posterior ones, the remaining parts of which are of a fine blueish purple.
Under Side. Palpi, legs, breast, and abdomen white. Anterior wings next the body yellowish brown, the tips the same. The red band is not so strong on this side as on the upper, neither does it extend to the inferior wings, but is bordered with black on that side near the tips. Posterior wings yellowish brown, prettily variegated with very small lighter marks and spots, with a small faint blueish indented line running along the external borders.
The original Fabrician description of this insect is stated to have been derived from an insect from Cayenne in the collection of Mr. Yeats; and in the Fabrician detailed description, we find the wings characterized thus—"macula magna, in medio, fulva, anticæ subtus concolores." It appears, however, from the observations of Donovan that the celebrated iconographer Jones had made a drawing of Yeats's specimen, from which drawing Donovan published his illustration of the species in the Naturalist's Repository, with the following observations:—"There was a variety of this insect pretty nearly, but not exactly, according with this in the collection of an old and well-known entomologist, a figure of which appeared shortly after the publication of the Fabrician writings as the true Papilio Pyramus. It was not precisely the same as it appeared to us from an inspection of the specimen in the Cabinet of Mr. Drury." Making due allowance for Donovan's over-charged colouring, there is still considerable difference between the figures of Drury and Donovan; in the former the fore-wings being almost entirely red on the under side, whilst in the latter, the upper side of same wings is red, except at the tips. In both these particulars, as will at once be seen from the above quotation of Fabricius, Drury's figure perfectly agrees with the character given of Yeats's specimen; whilst Donovan's differs in each respect. The female of this species is destitute of the purple gloss on the upper surface of the wings, and the red band does not run into the posterior pair.