Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 48



The insects composing this group, have only been discovered in the hot latitudes of America. In the Systema Naturæ one species alone is recorded; Fabricius was acquainted with three; our own cabinet possesses eighteen, all collected in a comparatively insignificant portion of Brazil. Others have been figured by Drury and Cramer, so that the number of species already known, may probably amount to near thirty.

The flight of these Swallow-tailed Hesperidæ, is usually performed in the morning and evening, and is so rapid, as frequently to elude the eye of the observer. They rest with all the four wings perpendicular, similar to the Swallow-tailed Butterflies, (P. Machaon, &c.) The present is a very rare species; we captured only two specimens near Bahia.

The sexes of this species materially differ. Our figure represents the female: in the male, the wings are browner, and highly glossed at their base with green; the snowy border on the posterior wings is very narrow above, but much broader beneath. It appears very locally distributed; we found it common in the vicinity of Bahia.