The Naturalist's Repository, Volume 1 (of 5): or Monthly Miscellany of Exotic Natural History: etc. etc.Donovan, E. (Edward)
Science
The Naturalist's Repository, Volume 1 (of 5): or Monthly Miscellany of Exotic Natural History: etc. etc.
Donovan, E. (Edward)
Zoology -- Pictorial works
It cannot fail to prove satisfactory to the Naturalist to be informed
that we have the same sanction for presenting the annexed figure as that
of the true PAPILIO ZACYNTHUS of _Fabricius_, as that to which we have
several times adverted upon other similar occasions in the progress of
the present publication, namely the hand-writing of that celebrated
Entomologist, inscribed upon the original drawings of Mr. Jones. This is
indeed a circumstance to which we cannot advert too frequently in our
references, since it is upon that authority alone that we are now
enabled to determine with any degree of precision nearly the whole of
those new species of Papiliones, the existence of which has been made
known throughout Europe by the classic writings of that author, but of
which no other evidence is now extant; for most of the collections
existing at the time Fabricius was in England, and to which he refers,
have been long since dispersed, and but for the care of the late Mr.
Jones of Chelsea, who had preserved these invaluable authorities to the
scientific world, the labours even of Fabricius in this department had
become comparatively of very little value.
Papilio Zacynthus is a species of the first family of Papiliones, the
Equites Trojani. It has much the habit of Papilio Æneas, a well known
insect, described by Linnæus, and which is figured by Roesel, Seba,
Jablonsky, and some other authors; but upon an attentive comparison it
will be found to be very different. Its great similarity renders it of
more importance to point out precisely the difference that prevails
between them, and this the present figure it is presumed will render
distinctly obvious.
In the species P. Zacanthus the wings are black: in the middle of the
first pair is a large spot composed of two distinct colours, the
anterior part being white, the posterior green, but on the underside the
spot appears entirely white. Papilio Æneas has also a spot of green upon
the anterior wings but without any portion of white. Papilio Æneas is a
native of India, Papilio Zacynthus is from the Brasils.
FIGURE II.
PAPILIO DIMAS
DIMAS’S BUTTERFLY.
ORDER
LEPIDOPTERA.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Antennæ thicker towards the tip, and generally terminating in a knob:
wings erect when at rest. Fly by day.
* EQUITES TROJANI.—_Fabr._
SPECIFIC CHARACTER
AND
SYNONYMS.
Wings indented: above and beneath black: on the anterior pair, a white
spot divided by veins: on the posterior pair a palmate sanguineous spot.
PAPILIO DIMAS: alis dentatis concoloribus nigris anticis macula alba
venis divisa, posticis sanguinea palmata.—_Fabr. Ent. Syst. T.
3. p. 1. p. 16. n. 47._
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