Lizars sc.
1. Papilio Ascanius.
Brazil. 2. Pap. Paris.
China.
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.