On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution as illustrated by the Papilionidæ of the Malayan regionWallace, Alfred Russel
Science
On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution as illustrated by the Papilionidæ of the Malayan region
Wallace, Alfred Russel
Papilionidae -- Malaysia -- Geographical distribution; Papilionidae -- Malaysia -- Variation
The specimens above quoted agree well with Cramer’s figures. The female
from the Sulla Islands differs only in having more yellow towards the
anal angle of the lower wings. The specimens figured by Cramer in pls.
10, 11, under the name of “_Hypolitus_” seem to be a remarkable variety,
in which the female has much of the character of the male. Messrs.
Doubleday and G. R. Gray have adopted _Panthous_ as the specific name of
this insect; but this name was first used by Linnæus for the female of
_Priamus_ only, in the 10th ed. of the ‘Systema Naturæ’ (1758). Clerck
(in 1759) adopted the name, but supposed he had found the male in the
female of _Remus_. Linnæus, in Mus. Lud. Ulric. (1764), and in the 12th
ed. of the ‘Systema Naturæ’ (1766), adopts this error, so far as
referring to Clerck’s two figures; but in both these works his
description refers only to the female of _P. Priamus_, indicating that
the supposed other sex (_P. Remus_) was not known to him personally. The
name of _Panthous_ must therefore altogether drop, it having been
applied to this species only through a double error—first, that of
Linnæus, in supposing his _Panthous_ to be distinct from _Priamus_, and
then that of Clerck, in thinking that a female _Remus_ was the male of
the Linnean _Panthous_.
7. ORNITHOPTERA HELENA, Linnæus.
♂. _P. Helena_, Cram. Pap. Ex. t. 140. f. A, B. _O. Helena_, Boisd.
Sp. Gén. Lép. p. 177.
♀. _P. Amphimedon_, Cram. Pap. Ex. t. 194. f. A. _O. Amphimedon_,
Boisd. Sp. Gén. p. 176.
_Hab._ Amboyna and Ceram (_Wall._).
The females from these localities are always sooty, with the spots and
markings on the hinder wings of a dull buff-colour even in the freshest
specimens.
_a._ Local form _Bouruensis_.—_Male_: exactly resembles the Amboyna
specimens, except that the yellow patch is more variable in form and
extent.
_Female_: nearly black, and with the markings on the lower wings almost
as pure and deep yellow as in the males: size a little smaller than in
the type.
_Hab._ Bouru (_Wall._).
_b._ Local form _Papuensis_.—_Female_: sooty black, the two first
branches of the subcostal nervure margined with whitish near their
origin; markings of the lower wings of the same tint of orange-yellow as
is _O. Helena_ ♂, but not so glossy.
_Male_ not known.
_Hab._ New Guinea, Salwatty (_Wall._).
_c._ Local form _Celebensis_.—_Male_: wings a little more pointed than
in _O. Helena_; yellow patch of lower wings extending nearer to the
posterior margin, and bounded towards the abdominal margin by the first
branch of the median nervure. Beneath, having the nervures between the
discoidal cell and the outer border ashy-margined.
_Female_ not known.
_Hab._ Macassar (Celebes) (_Wall._).
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