Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 98



The Butterflies of which we consider the species now figured as the typical example, constitute one of the great natural divisions of the modern genus Papilio; and they are peculiarly distinguished in all their three stages of existence, namely in the caterpillar, the pupa, and in the winged state. Dr. Horsfield has enabled us to illustrate the two former, and we add a figure of the perfect butterfly from specimens in our own cabinet, collected in Java. It seems subject to much variation in point of colour, but we have strong suspicions that some of the varieties are distinct species. The richness of the black resembles Genoa velvet, while that of the yellow may be compared to glossy satin. All the larger species of the group are Oriental, but we suspect America is not without typical examples, although they are of a much smaller size. The species however, even with these additions, are so few, that the sub-types of the group cannot be accurately made out.

As this seems to be the pre-eminent type of the genus, we preserve to it the generic name.