Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 1
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Title: Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 1
Author: Dru Drury
Editor: J. O. Westwood
Release date: December 23, 2014 [eBook #47599]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXOTIC ENTOMOLOGY, VOLUME 1 ***
Transcriber's note:
The copy on which this edition is based was bound with the 3 volumes of
text in one physical volume and the plates in another. They have been
reordered into 3 separate projects with the plates inserted adjacent to the
related text - other copies are known to have been bound in this fashion.
Page numbers enclosed by curly braces (example: {25}) have been
incorporated to facilitate the use of the Index (in Volume III.).
Images of the original plates are available through Internet Archive. See
https://archive.org/details/illustrationsofe12drur
Project Gutenberg has the other two volumes of this work.
Volume II: see https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47600.
Volume III: see https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47601.
* * * * *
ILLUSTRATIONS
OF
EXOTIC ENTOMOLOGY,
CONTAINING
UPWARDS OF SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY
FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS
OF
FOREIGN INSECTS,
INTERSPERSED WITH
REMARKS AND REFLECTIONS ON THEIR NATURE AND PROPERTIES.
BY DRU DRURY.
----
A NEW EDITION,
BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT STATE OF THE SCIENCE,
WITH THE SYSTEMATIC CHARACTERS OF EACH SPECIES, SYNONYMS, INDEXES,
AND OTHER ADDITIONAL MATTER.
BY J. O. WESTWOOD, F.L.S.
SOC. CÆS. NAT. CUR. MOSQ. SOC.
ETC. ETC.
----
VOL. I.
----
LONDON:
HENRY G. BOHN, 4, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
MDCCCXXXVII.
{iii}PREFACE
TO THE PRESENT EDITION.
The acknowledged value of the figures contained in Drury's
"Illustrations,"[1] the extreme rarity of many of the insects figured
therein, which continue up to the present day to be unique, and the
scarcity of the work itself, which appears almost unknown to Continental
Entomologists, having induced the proprietor of the plates to republish the
work, I have consented to undertake the charge of bringing it forth in a
form more adapted to the present greatly advanced state of Entomology. How
far I have succeeded must be left for the candid Entomologist to decide. It
is fit however that, by way of bespeaking indulgence for the numerous
errors into which I fear that I have, notwithstanding all my care, fallen,
I should mention the obstacles which have operated against my giving the
work that perfect style which I could have wished it to possess. Of these
the chief difficulty has arisen from the non-possession of the specimens
which served for the original illustrations, without which it may be
readily conceived that it has been impossible to ascertain with precision
many of the more minute characters, of which the present state of the
science requires the investigation; thus in many cases I have been obliged
to remain in ignorance of the particular structure of the antennæ, trophi
and legs, and the disposition of the veins of the wings, in many of the
smaller species of Lepidoptera, so that the precise genera may not in some
instances be correctly stated; and to many I have been compelled to attach
marks of interrogation for the like reason. Another and equally strong
obstacle has been produced from the little attention paid to exotic
{iv}Lepidoptera by modern Entomologists. More than two-thirds of these
Illustrations are illustrative of that beautiful order of insects; and yet,
with the exception of some of the showy butterflies and moths, scarcely a
reference is to be found even in the works of Fabricius, the personal
friend of Drury, whose Entomologia Systematica, published in 1793 and 1794,
contains the last general summary of the species of this order; Gmelin
also, whose Systema Naturæ it has been the fashion to decry, but which, as
a laborious compilation from the works of preceding and chiefly Continental
authors, is of great service,[2] was only acquainted with these
illustrations through the early works of Fabricius.[3] It is true that M.
M. Boisduval and Guérin have respectively published various new exotic
Lepidoptera, especially of the Nocturnal group, in the Voyages of the
Coquille and Astrolabe; but we still want a general revision, not only of
the species but of the genera of this order. It was to have been hoped
that, as regarded the Javanese species, this would have been effected by
Dr. Horsfield, whose work upon the Lepidoptera of Java, as far as
published, leaves nothing to be desired of the structural details of the
species illustrated therein. M. Boisduval also, in his Histoire Naturelle
des Lépidoptères, has treated the subject in a masterly manner, availing
himself both of the preparatory states and veining of the wings; but we
greatly miss those beautiful details which render the works of Horsfield
and Curtis invaluable. It is in this comparative ignorance, both of the
structural and metamorphotic details of exotic Lepidoptera, that we may
attribute the want of a sound and philosophical distribution of the order
in question; and which at the same time prevents us from determining the
situation of many remarkable and anomalous groups. Of these the genera
Castnia, Urania, &c. and the whole tribe of the Zygænidæ may especially be
mentioned; and it is with the view of inciting enquiry into this part of
the subject, that I have introduced many of the latter species into the
genus Callimorpha amongst the Nocturnal moths.
Another obstacle has been produced by the little attention paid by the
Entomologists of the last century to the geographical situation of their
insects; as an instance of this, it will be sufficient to mention that
Linnæus and Fabricius made use of the term "In Indiis" generally, to
indicate that an insect was an inhabitant either of the West or East
Indies. Drury indeed appears to have paid more than the ordinary degree of
attention to this part of the subject, as appears from the Catalogue of his
Insects, which I obtained at the sale of Mr. Donovan's collections, to
whom, as appears by a note, they were presented by Mr. Drury. Thus under
Lucanus interruptus, (Genus Passalus, Fabricius,) we find the {v}following
entries:--
7. 3. Interruptus, Muskito Shore, Capt. Keay, } also at Maryland,
8. 3. Interruptus, Sierra Leone, Mr. Smeathman,} New York,
Carolina, where
they are very
large.
9. 3. Interruptus, Maryland, Mr. Milward, 1756, Lin. Syst.
p. 560, f. 4.
10. 4. Interrupt. var. Rio Janeiro, Mr. Bonifas, 1775, that on the
right hand from Mr. Laing, at
Tobago.
12. Interrupt. var. Bought at Seymour's sale.
Here it is quite evident that Drury had carefully noted down the localities
of all the specimens of this insect which he possessed, and which are now
described as distinct species; and this extract will I think be quite
sufficient to shew, that from the careful manner in which these Catalogues
were kept by Mr. Drury, we are entitled to regard them, when there happens
to be a difference between the works of Drury and Fabricius, Linnæus, &c.
as at least of equal authority with the writings of these authors. I regret
that these Catalogues did not come into my hands until after the first and
second volumes of this edition were printed off. I have incorporated the
notes in the third volume; and have given, as an Appendix, extracts from
these Catalogues, where there happens to be any variation or doubt as to
the locality of any of the species figured in the first two volumes.
I have almost invariably adopted the very proper principle of referring to
that name, either generic or specific, which has the priority in point of
date. In the first edition, the first volume appeared without specific
names, which were at that time a novelty but recently introduced by
Linnæus. In the second volume, however, an appendix was given, containing
specific names both of the first and second volumes, and a similar appendix
was given at the end of the third volume; but no specific names appeared in
the body of the work. To many of the names contained in the appendices
Fabricius referred, many he entirely omitted, and for many he substituted
others. These last I have of course rejected; and have in many instances
given the dates when the names were first imposed by the different
authors--a plan which would be very serviceable if generally adopted. I
have, likewise, made a point in many cases of restoring the specific
_proper_ names, where, in consequence of a change in the sex of the generic
name, a corresponding change had been made in such specific name. This
alteration had been carried to a great extent in the Encyclopédie
Méthodique; and many male and female _proper_ names had been completely
altered, in order to suit them to the sex of the new genera in which they
were placed. This was, however, an error on the wrong side; because it is
admitted as an established principle, that if it should be thought
necessary to subdivide a genus, the names of the subdivisions should be of
the sex of the original generic name.
The plan upon which the first edition of this work was published may be
seen from the following specimen, which is one of the shortest given, but
which will be sufficient to shew not only the style of the former edition,
but also the manner in which I have treated the subject and the additions
which I have introduced.
{vi}Vol. I. Plate II.
Fig. III.--Expands about three inches.
_Upper Side._--The antennæ are black. The head, thorax, and abdomen
brown. All the wings (the edges of which are even not dentated) are of a
deep brown, with a shade of clay colour, rising near the anterior edges
of the superior ones, runs along near the tips and ends at the external
edges.
_Under Side._--The eyes are black, the palpi yellow. All the wings are
the same brown colour as the upper side, with the clay-coloured shade
near the tips as on that. The superior wings have five whitish spots on
each placed on a row near the external edges, the inferior ones have on
each sometimes five and sometimes seven spots of the same colour placed
in a circular row, that meets near the extremity of the body.
I received it from China. I cannot find it any where described.
Fig. III.--Il deploye ses aîles environ trois pouces.
_Le Dessus._--Les antennes sont noires. La tête le corcelet et l'abdomen
bruns. Les aîles (dont les bords sont unis ou point dentélés) sont d'une
couleur brune foncée, avec une nuance couleur d'argille se levant proche
des bords antérieurs des aîles supérieures, qui court le long près des
bouts et finit aux bords extérieurs.
_Le Dessous._--Les yeux sont noires, les antennules jaunes. Toutes les
aîles sont de la même couleur brune que en dessus, avec la nuance
d'argille proche des bouts chacune des aîles supérieures a cinq taches
blanchâtres, placées sur une ligne près des bords extérieurs. Les
inférieures ont chacune quelquefois cinq et quelquefois sept taches de la
même couleur rangées circulairment et se rencontrant près de l'extrémité
du corps.
Il l'ai reçue de la Chine. Je ne le trouve point décrit.
The name of Papilio Eumeus was consequently proposed for this insect in the
Appendix to the second volume.
Amongst the manuscripts with which I have been favoured by the relatives of
Mr. Drury, or have obtained elsewhere, are comprised a variety of notes
relative to the publication of this work, and of observations from which
the following are selected. He notices that "his _descriptions_ are only
intended to assist the reader in ascertaining the different species; and
that they are not intended to be so complete as to give a perfect idea of
the animal without the help of the figure." He alludes to the difficulty
not only "of ascertaining true colours or calling them by their proper
names," but also of "colouring the prints so, as to exactly represent the
natural specimens,"--that he has mentioned and given English names to no
more parts of insects than had suited his purpose for describing
them,--that "there are some parts mentioned in the descriptions which
cannot be seen in the plates, such as the Gorget (Sternum), &c. which may
serve not only to assist in classing them, but to ascertain their species."
"The descriptions of the Hymenoptera are not intended to be so complete as
to give a perfect idea of the insect, but are only given to assist the
reader in observing the figures."
"All the descriptions are taken from the insects themselves; whatever
defects, therefore, are to be observed in comparing them with the coloured
figures must be imputed to the artist, as it would not be proper to
describe them according to the prints, but to {vii}nature."--It is in
consequence of this last remark that I have been careful to omit nothing of
the original edition in this edition of the least importance, but have
given the description as much as possible in the words of the author
himself.
I have also added a general Systematic Index to the entire work, and an
Alphabetic Index, in which the names employed in the first edition are
distinguished by an asterisk.
The collection formed by Drury was exceedingly choice, and had occupied
nearly thirty years in its formation; for although, as Drury himself says
(in one of the printed circulars which he distributed with a view to its
sale) "there may be in Holland collections more numerous, having in many
instances a great number of a single species, yet no collection abounds
with such a wonderful variety in all the different genera as this. All the
specimens of which it is composed, are in the highest and most exquisite
state of preservation, such an extensive collection can be supposed to be,
and a very considerable number are _unique_, such as are not to be found in
any other Cabinet whatever, and of considerable value; many of which,
coming from countries exceedingly unhealthy, where the collectors, in
procuring them, have perished by the severity of the climate, give but
little room to expect any duplicate will ever be obtained during the
present age; and the learned quotations that have been taken from it by
those celebrated authors Linnæus and Fabricius, in all their late editions,
are incontestable proofs of the high degrees of estimation they entertained
of it."
This statement was made in 1788, when the author had consumed upwards of
twenty-five years in its formation, and at which period no less a sum than
£4,000. had been expended upon the collection. At this period the
collection consisted of--
Subjects. Different Species.
Coleoptera 2218 2136
Hemiptera 895 778
Lepidoptera 2462 2148
Neuroptera 172 171
Hymenoptera 533 533
Diptera 552 402
Aptera 105 96
English Collection 2641 2070
---- ----
9578 8370
Subsequently great additions were made to the collection, which, as will be
seen from the localities affixed to the species figured in these
Illustrations was received from all parts of the world with which England
at that period had intercourse. Of the earnest zeal with which this
collection was made, an idea may be obtained from a copy of a letter
addressed to a gentleman residing in Africa, with whom he was anxious to
enter into correspondence.
_London, Dec. 13th_, 1766.
SIR,
My being an utter stranger to you compels me to apologize for the liberty
I take in sending you this. Mr. Carghill's recommendation is the occasion
of my doing so, and he has assured me of your {viii}kind disposition to
oblige me in those articles that are the subject of the following lines;
I must therefore inform you that I am engaged in the study of Natural
History, but as the extensiveness of it in all its several parts is very
great, I confine myself entirely to one single branch, and that is
Insects. A branch I find fully sufficient to engage my attention without
entering into any of the others, and in consequence of this I am
endeavouring to obtain as large a collection of foreign ones as I
possibly can; to this end I am under a necessity of getting various
recommendations from my friends to gentlemen settled in foreign parts,
who I must consider as the only persons that can effectually assist me in
this scheme. Permit me therefore, Sir, to beg your concurrence herein,
and if the highest ideas of gratitude can prompt a man to make an
adequate return for any favour of this kind, be assured I shall take the
earliest opportunity of manifesting mine for any thing you shall think
proper to oblige me with. The great distance the continent of Africa is
situated from London, the ignorance we labour under of its produce in the
insect world, and the great difficulty I have found in procuring any
insects from those parts, are circumstances that rather increase than
blunt my desire for them; but as in the course of fourteen years I have
not been able to procure any great number, I can only attribute this
disappointment to my having never been able to apply to any gentleman
settled there, for the persons that I have hitherto commissioned to this
purpose were those that returned with the ships they went in, and I
imagine their time was too short to be able to procure such things for
me; but as Mr. Carghill has informed me your residence in Africa will
afford you many leisure hours, permit me to indulge the hope of your
complying with this request. It is necessary for me to inform you that
there is no occasion for your bestowing any time of your own in this
pursuit, as I imagine it might be done by people to be hired in Africa to
that purpose for a very trifle; and as it is necessary I should inform
you where and in what manner insects in general are to be taken, give me
leave therefore to explain the use of the things I have sent for that
purpose: you will observe the bows of the forceps being covered with
gauze, and folding so close together as to prevent any small insect's
getting out when once enclosed, constitutes a contrivance the best
adapted of any thing I ever saw for that purpose, it is small enough to
be carried in the pocket, and if you have curiosity enough to employ an
hour in this amusement, permit me to say you will have a scene of wonders
opened to you in the insect world, you will have such a number of objects
of speculation present themselves, that will amaze you. When an insect is
inclosed in these nets it is to be stuck through the body with a pin (I
have sent some for this purpose), and in that manner placed in the box,
whose top and bottom are lined with cork. Suffer me to beg of you (if you
will be so obliging to procure me some of those things) to get a larger
box made in Africa of soft wood, in which a pin will easily enter, and
replace the insects out of the oval box now sent into that, and when
filled I will entreat you to commit it to the care of a friend to be
conveyed to England, giving him at the same time a charge to keep it from
being tumbled about by the rolling of the ship, which will certainly
damage the contents, and favouring me with a letter of advice; it is
necessary to beg you to paste a slip of fine linen or paper all round the
crevice and opening of the box, to prevent the cockroaches, ants, &c.
getting in, who will infallibly damage and destroy the insects in it; I
forgot to mention that they should not be removed out of the oval box
into the great one till they are dead, because they will scratch and tear
one another to pieces, therefore when the person comes home from
collecting, they may be taken out singly and stuck on a piece of board or
stick, and held close to the fire (not so as to burn or scorch them), and
this in less than a minute will effectually kill them, afterwards they
may be stuck very close together in the large box, and in that manner
sent to England. I will just mention what kinds will be most acceptable,
and where they are to be found, viz. beetles or insects with hard cased
wings, insects with transparent wings, such as wasps, {ix}bees,
waterflies, also locusts or grasshoppers, ants, fireflies, or in short
any kind except cockroaches, centipedes, or scorpions, which in general
are so very common they cease to be valuable--of all the other kinds
there is an infinite variety, differing in size, shape, and colour, any
of which will be very acceptable, either large or small; and of which,
give me leave to observe, the most ugly disagreeable insects (as they
appear to be) are the most desirable. They are found in various places,
some on flowers, some in horse-dung or cow-dung, some under stones and
logs of wood, some under the bark of trees where it separates or divides
itself from the body, which by tearing up will expose many kinds to view;
but no place abounds more than rotten trees, for there they hide and
secrete themselves in holes among the rotten wood, and are never seen
unless they are searched for. Let me here observe, that the different
seasons will yield different species of insects, some being to be found
in one week that were not to be seen the preceding ones, and the next
will afford others differing from the former, while the succeeding one
shall produce some other sorts that were not to be seen before; so that
by searching for them at different times, you perceive great varieties
will be collected. I must also beg you to preserve the horns of them as
much as possible, as they in a great measure determine their genus, and
as such should not be broke off. The insects placed in the box will serve
as samples to show the person you may hire what kinds of things are meant
to be collected, who for want of them might not be able to understand
your instructions.
I have now, Sir, mentioned every article necessary to be known, therefore
shall conclude with once more begging you to assist me in this scheme;
and if there is any business, or any other thing, in which I can be
serviceable to you here, I beg you would command me; but if there is
nothing of that kind by which I can express my gratitude, permit me again
to repeat I shall take the first opportunity of making a return fully
adequate to your favour.
I am, Sir, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
D. DRURY,
At No. 1. in Love Lane, Aldermanbury,
London.
P. S. I forgot to mention that when you employ an agent to collect
insects, please to tell him it is not the great number but the variety
that I desire, six or eight being enough of any one species.
Subsequently, this fine collection came to the hammer, on Thursday, May 23,
1805, and the two following days. A few of the more interesting lots, with
the prices obtained for them, and the names of the purchasers, are given
below as an interesting record.
Lot 3 Phalæna Aprilina, Graminis, and 22 others 26 £7 12 0 G. Humphrey.
8 Sphinx Convolvuli, and 8 others 9 4 1 0 Donovan.
46 Papilio Priamus 1 4 14 6 General
Davies.
64 ---- Claviger, and 5 others 6 7 10 0 MacLeay.
69 A variety of curious Spiders, chiefly
from Georgia 110 4 4 0 Donovan.
90 Papilio Iris, Edusa, Hyale, and various 4 10 0 Humphrey.
94 Sixteen curious Curculiones 16 11 11 0 Ditto.
95 Scarabæus Goliathus, var. 1 12 1 6 Ditto.
100 Cerambyx Gigas, and 2 others 3 4 8 0 Haworth.
104 Thirteen Species of the Buprestis Genus 13 8 0 0 MacLeay.
105 Elater Flabellicornis, virens, and
8 others 10 4 6 0 Latham.
112 Cetonia hamata, nitens, grandis,
Scarabæus festivus, and 12 others 16 17 0 0 MacLeay.
123 A variety of small Insects of the
Mordella, Forficula, and other Genera,
among which are Diopsis ichneumonea
(and also a species ofPaussus) 31 7 0 0 Ditto.
201 Mutilla bimaculata, thoracica, Scolia
signata, and 24 others 27 3 5 0 Kirby.
269 Sphex tropica, frontalis, Africana, &c. 128 6 6 0 Ditto.
{x}The total amount obtained for the Insects was £614. 8_s._ 6_d._; and
about £300. more for the Cabinets, Books, &c. with the Copper-plates of the
Illustrations.
Of the estimation in which the works and collections of Drury were held by
Linnæus, Fabricius, &c. the constant references (especially by the latter)
made to them, will sufficiently prove. The former dedicated a fine species
of Cimex to Drury, figured in the first volume of these Illustrations, pl.
42. f. 1. 5.; whilst the latter described an American species of Stenocorus
from Drury's collection, under the name of St. Drurii (Ent. Syst. 1. 2. p.
302.) and also a Danish Tinea under the name of T. Drurella. The Rev. W.
Kirby also in his Monograph upon the English Bees, has named a rare species
belonging to the modern genus Eucera, Apis Drurella, with the remark--"In
honorem D. Drury, operis entomologici splendidissimi auctoris, cujus museum
insectorum rarissimorum undique conquisitorum gazophylacium ditissimum,
hanc apem ab illo acceptam nominavi." (Mon. Ap. Angl. 2. p. 286.)
That Drury was in correspondence with these "Heroes Scientiæ" will
therefore be unquestioned; and the following letter from the younger
Linnæus, communicated to me by the relatives of the former is interesting
not only on this account, but for the curious statement relative to the
Oestrus humanus then recently discovered in South America.
Celeberrimo Viro D. Drury.
S. pl. d.
Carolus a Linne.
Dum post mortem dilectissimi parentis occupatus fui in redigendo
naturalia ab illo in Syst. Nat. nondum determinata, et ut his
nomenclaturam pro scientia naturali maxime necessariam continuarem,
maxime sollicitus fui illa, quantum mihi possibile foret, synonymis ex
præstantioribus auctoribus scientiæ illustrare, imprimis illorum qui
pulcherrimis individuorum figuris sint ornati. Tu, Vir Celeberrime, es ex
illis, qui in Insectis pulcherrima præstitisti; ex Tuo opere volumina
habeo duo, quæ in hereditario cum reliqua Bibliotheca[4] Parentis habeo;
sed an tertius termes s. plures post secundum prodiere est quod ignoro,
et de qua re rogarem tuam informationem? et si prodiere ubi inveniuntur?
et quo prætio? Amicitiam quam erga Parentem habuisti, spero hanc filiolo
permittere licentiam. Optandum esset a Te in his majorem videre
augmentum, requirunt insecta figuras; nam vix differentiis determinanda
sunt. Insecta australioris plaga mundi a Banksio et Forsteriis indagata,
pulcherrime et utilissime pro scientia methodo Tua illustrari possent.
Utinam facere vellis, immortalitatem Tuam conservaret scientia hæc!
{xi}Ego qui nunc novam paro editionem Zoologicam Syst. Nat.[5] summam in
insectis sentio difficultatem ita exprimere, ut aliis intelligas quod tam
facile figuris lævatur. Multa præstitit noster De Geer de Insectis, sed
majora adhuc præstitisset, si figuræ vivis coloribus ornatæ fuissent.
Quis Entomologus est alius apud vos qui collectionem Insectorum possidet
ex India occidentali, si quis esset qui desideraret insecta Suecica
lubenter Illi ea præstare vellem.
Nuper litteras habui ex America Meridionali ubi morbus endemius est
hominum etiam Europeos aggredit illuc venientes quæ causatur a larva
Oestri, quæ intra cutem per integrum annum coelatus et nullo remedio
expelli potest nisi periculo vitæ; est nova species Oestri.
Sed hic vale et mihi fave.
Dabam Upsaliæ, d. 10 Mart. 1780.
To Mr. D. Drury, Goldsmith in the Strand, in London.
My late friend A. H. Haworth, Esq. thus spoke of Drury and his works in the
year 1807. "In the year 1770 we arrive at the time of publication of a
beautiful work on Entomology, that of my late and regretted friend D.
Drury, F.L.S. in one vol. 4to. printed at London, and containing
comprehensive descriptions in English and French, with an Index of Linnæan
names at the end, and a great many coloured copper-plates of such
interesting exotic Insects, as had not been before or insufficiently
figured. The icons were executed by Moses Harris, in his best style; and
are far superior to any of their predecessors in Britain.
"It is also unquestionably the first work in this country in which the
trivial names of Linnæus are suffered to make their appearance, and
although only given in the shape of an index, their extensive value throws
a lustre on the utility of the work, which, unaided by them, would not have
reached a second volume, published in 1773, and a third in 1782; and even a
fourth would have appeared if the author had lived much longer;[6] as he
himself assured me, some time prior to his decease; wherein would have been
delineated some of the gigantic and extraordinary insects of Demerara, in
which remote territory he had successfully employed a collecting agent. Mr.
Drury's Cabinet was one of the most extensive ever made; and is said to
have contained, in species and varieties, the surprising number of 11,000
insects. He spared neither pains nor cost in getting them together, and
like Petiver of old, sent printed instructions, in various languages, all
over the world for that purpose, by captains of ships and others.
"Soon after his decease, at an advanced age, which happened about two years
since, his valuable collection was disposed of in London, by public
auction."--(Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol. I. 1807. p. 34.)
The decease of Mr. Dru Drury occurred on the 15th of January, 1804, at the
age of eighty, and he was buried at the parish church of St. Martins in the
Fields.
J. O. W.
{xii}MR. DRURY'S PREFACE
TO THE FIRST EDITION.
----
VOL. I.
It is universally allowed that the study of nature is one of the most
pleasing employments that can engage the mind of man. The entertainment it
affords is as infinite as the variety of subjects of which it is composed;
and such a vast field of speculation lies open to our view, either in the
animal, vegetable, or mineral worlds, that each of them is fully sufficient
to engross the attention of a single person. It must be allowed, that the
study of natural history is so far from having attained that degree of
perfection it might have done, by the assiduity of the curious, that it
cannot, at present, be considered as having attained its meridian; and the
slow manner in which it arrived even to that, has subjected us very much to
the reflections of foreigners; many of whom appear surprised, that a
nation, not inferior to others in every branch of science and knowledge,
should discover so great a want of curiosity, and little attention to a
study that has been productive of so many advantages to mankind, and
probably, may hereafter produce many more. Certainly, such opportunities
for improvement never presented themselves in this kingdom, as in the
present age. All corners of the world are visited by our ships; the
remotest shores of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, are not unknown to
our countrymen; but feel the effects of that insatiable thirst for traffic
and gain, that animates the present generation. Every lover, therefore, of
this study must naturally hope, that such noble occasions of increasing the
knowledge of nature, may not be neglected. It is indeed true, that the
number of its votaries, in England, are but few, in proportion to other
states, where professorships and societies are established under the
patronage and protection of the chief personages: yet if we consider it as
affording an inconceivable fund of entertainment to its followers, it is
rather to be wondered it is not more encouraged and propagated among us,
than that we should find a few who have resolution enough to judge for
themselves, and follow a study that is always new and always pleasing. The
sneers and contempt thrown on it by men of narrow minds, who are impatient
at hearing of persons bestowing their time in collecting a plant, an
insect, or a stone, may perhaps contribute {xiii}not a little to prevent
its progress; but whatever character may be stamped, either upon the study,
or its professors, by such persons; it is certain, none but men fit to be
placed in the first rank, have usually philosophy enough to prompt them to
make enquiries into the works of nature. To some the task appears too
arduous, to others too intricate, and to the generality too trifling; who
are apt to look with contempt on every pursuit that does not coincide with
their own opinions; nor must we, from vulgar minds, expect any conclusions
in its favour: with these, a horse, a dog, or a cock, seem to bound the
utmost limits of their gratifications. But men of refined tastes will judge
otherways. They know that the inexhaustible store of entertainment nature
affords in the contemplation of her works, is unbounded. It is not to be
enjoyed all at once; the more we pursue, the more we shall possess, in
proportion as we manifest a greater or less ardour. Nor is the serene
placid enjoyment found therein, to be measured by the common gratifications
of sense; as these often leave stings behind that worry the soul, and
subvert the end they intended to promote; while the other offers to us its
friendly aid, replete with happiness, health, and peace. And further, if
the contemplation of the works of the Sovereign Architect, tends to promote
that serious and attentive state of mind which disposes men to the pursuit
of virtue, in order to be happy; and if the knowledge and practice of
virtue are the means of supporting the mind through all the difficult
passages and rugged paths of life; the naturalist bids as fair to be happy
as any of the human race. His pleasures are not chequered by remorse, or
damped by despair; his pursuits leave no horrors on the mind, or clash with
the duty he owes his Maker, his neighbour, or his prince; his conscience
suffers not for the indulgence of his mind, nor has repentance need to
stalk behind him with an uplifted arm, for injustice committed on his
fellow-creatures; on the contrary, it is for them ultimately his labours
are pursued, for them he inquires into the various arcana of nature; every
part of the earth is searched for their benefit, and its bowels are torn
out and examined for their advantage.
On the other hand, if we consider natural history as connected with
religion, we shall find them so interwoven and blended together as not to
be separated. In this view we shall find it the best adapted for opening
the mind, enlarging its conceptions, and giving us the most exalted ideas
of the Deity, of any science whatever, astronomy not excepted, whose study,
however noble it may be thought, tends not more to the same improvement;
for certainly the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Almighty are as
conspicuous in the smallest objects, as those of the first magnitude, if
_great_ and _little_ be only relative terms. If, therefore, natural history
is able to accomplish this, nothing surely can afford a more effectual cure
for infidelity. For whoever heard of a naturalist being an atheist? or of
an infidel, who had spent his life in studying and observing the works of
nature? I believe none will hesitate to pronounce the man, who has made any
considerable progress in this study, and who could entertain thoughts so
injurious to the honour of his Maker, to be a more wonderful being than any
that ever went before him.
{xiv}The train of reflections that arise from these considerations, is
greater than is consistent with the plan I have prescribed to myself in
these pages. If the reader is desirous of being further informed of the
uses and advantages of natural history, I shall refer him to
Stillingfleet's Tracts, taken from the Amoenitates Academicæ, published at
Upsal; where he may be acquainted with many curious and interesting
particulars, which I have not room to insert here; my speculations having
been confined to one single branch (insects) I shall only mention such
observations relative thereto as may be proper for an introduction of this
kind.
Insects may, with great truth, be considered as a rank of beings so
wonderful and extraordinary, as to strike with astonishment every observer,
if we regard either their structure, powers, or use; and creatures, who, at
the same time that they challenge our regard, loudly proclaim the wisdom,
goodness, and omnipotence of their great Creator. If their shape and beauty
are capable of attracting our notice, their ways of living are no less
adapted for exciting our admiration; and the more we enquire into their
nature and history, the more occasion we shall find for confessing this
great truth, "nothing is created in vain." The wondrous manner in which
numbers of them pass their lives, during their first states, is unknown to
the greater part of mankind. Most people, indeed, know that a Caterpillar
produces a Butterfly; but thousands of persons do not know that a
Caterpillar is a Butterfly in disguise, as Dr. Lister ingeniously
observes,[7] and as Swammerdam[8] proved to the great Duke of Tuscany, by
stripping off the external skins, and displaying the butterfly concealed
beneath them. Many persons are ignorant that plants (even of the most
poisonous nature) are the beloved and favourite food of some species of
insects, and that what is wholesome and nourishing to one, is pernicious
and destructive to another. Who would believe that the hard substance of
the soundest Oak was capable of being macerated by an insect, and received
into its stomach as food? that it should there yield a proper nutriment for
its growth, and that nothing but a substance as hard and firm as that could
possibly contribute to the creature's health and increase? Who would
imagine that a colony of Ants, an insect so contemptible in size,
considered singly, were capable of making animals, of considerable bulk and
strength, retreat from them as from a formidable enemy?[9] Who would
suspect that numbers of insects are appointed to live, during the greatest
part of their lives, within the bodies of other animals, many of whom
receive no material injury thereby; some become frantic and {xv}diseased,
and others are doomed to perish, and by their deaths give birth to these
their inbred enemies? Who, that is a stranger to natural history, would
believe that there are insects destined to live in the waters many months,
where their principal employment is the destruction of animals less than
themselves, on whom they feed and thrive, till they become inhabitants of
the air, when their lives are terminated in a few weeks, perishing by the
depredations of old age, if they are lucky enough to escape the power of
other animals stronger than themselves? Yet such are the truths existing in
nature; truths known to every one conversant with this study. In short,
there is no part of the kingdom of nature, where so many wonders are
unfolded to us, as in this of insects.
Nor are they to be considered in that contemptible light in which the
generality of mankind are apt to place them. We are too prone to think
every thing noxious and unnecessary, if we are not fully acquainted with
its use. "The poor Beetle that we tread on," serves to fill up an order of
beings, as useful and proper in the economy of nature, as that of a
partridge or a hare, whose preservation and increase we are so solicitous
for. Many others, whose very sight create the most disagreeable sensations,
are not less useful and proper, under the same predicament. The carcases of
dead animals, which, when putrid, send forth a most nauseous stench, would
remain so for a great length of time, were it not for the various kinds of
Flesh Flies, who, by depositing their eggs there, help to consume it very
quickly, and prevent a continuance so offensive to our nostrils and health.
Many kinds of insects are to be found here in England, in great plenty,
who, it is highly probable, by a close enquiry into their natures might be
rendered very serviceable to us, either mediately or immediately. The blue
Dung Beetle (Scarabæus Stercorarius of Linnæus) found in great plenty in
July, under horse-dung and cow-dung, it is not unlikely may yield effects,
either in medicine or dyeing, that at present we are ignorant of. It is
certain, it abounds with salts that are strong and pungent; but the
examination of them must be left to time, and the enquiry of some ingenious
person.
The Meloe Proscarebeus of Linnæus, or English Oil Beetle, described by
Moffat, lib. i. cap. 23., also by Godartius in Lister's translation, number
120. yields an oil by expression in considerable quantity, which is used in
Sweden, with the greatest success, in the cure of the rheumatism, by
bathing the afflicted part. Of this I have been well assured by an
ingenious physician who resided there. Might not the same effects be
expected from it here as there? Its virtues, I imagine, are not confined to
a single country; nor can I suppose the different situations of them will
prevent its being equally efficacious here as in Sweden. However, it is
certainly worth while to make the experiment.[10]
{xvi}The Cantharides or Spanish Flies, is a species of insect every one has
heard of. They are brought us from abroad, and used medicinally; but
principally to raise blisters. For these we pay great sums of money to
foreign countries: but a proper examination into the nature of insects
might save us the necessity of doing so; for let me not be disbelieved,
when I say this very species of the cantharides is found in England.[11]
Might not, therefore, a close inquiry into the subject, spare us the
trouble and expense of applying to foreigners for this article? But are the
medicinal virtues of the cantharides confined entirely to that species? Is
there none other found in England, answering the same purpose, which we
might have by seeking for? If I am not mis-informed, there is. The Musk
Beetle, or Cerambix Moschata of Linnæus, is found on the bodies of
willow-trees in the month of July, or sooner, if the weather is favourable.
This insect, I have been confidently informed by an eminent surgeon (the
late Mr. Guy) who tried it, has the same virtues, and produces the same
effects as the cantharides; being capable, when properly prepared, of
procuring a strong blister in as short a space of time as the other.
Whether there is not other insects to be found in this kingdom, whose
properties, when examined, might be found similar to the cantharides, is a
matter that time only will clear up.
I cannot here pass unmentioned the effects of ants, whose volatile
effluvia, arising from their colonies or nests is so great, that a hand
rubbed thereon, and applied immediately to the nose of a fainting person,
exhilarates and refreshes equal to the spirit of hartshorn, or what is
called sal volatile.
Such are the known medicinal uses of insects; and under the article of
clothing they serve us in a more conspicuous manner. To many thousands of
persons they afford the means of living with comfort and happiness. Even
kings are indebted to them for their grandest garments. Immense fortunes
have been procured, by their means, to persons in trade, and the great
number of people who daily subsist by manufacturing silk, either by
spinning, weaving, or dyeing it, have the greatest reason to thank
Providence for the institution of this insect. To the last, the Cochineal
(Coccinella Cacti of Linnæus) affords him the power of giving our silks and
cloths the most beautiful and lasting colours; being without it unable to
produce such proofs of his ingenuity; not to mention many other occasions
wherein this insect is peculiarly serviceable. Nor is there any part of the
world where they do not directly, or secondarily, serve mankind for food.
In every kingdom of the earth, where they are to be found, shrimps, prawns
and crabs are eaten by all ranks and degrees of people, if animal food is
allowed them; and our cray-fish or lobsters must not {xvii}be excluded from
the same order. The Locust represented in Plate 50. Fig. 2. is eaten by
many tribes, and, I may say, nations of people, in Asia and Africa. These
animals are frequently driven from their native soils, by strong winds,
into foreign countries, where, for several days together, by their
inconceivable numbers, they obscure the light of the sun, and make the
inhabitants tremble for their vegetables. It is at those times the Asiatics
and Africans gather them, and eat them with much delight, dressing them,
either by stewing, or frying them with oil; they also pickle and sell them
publicly in some of the markets of the Levant, and many other parts.
The caterpillar belonging to Fig. 1. of Plate 38. which I have mentioned in
my description of that insect to be eaten in the West Indies, and
considered as a dainty, is sought for by those persons who are admirers of
that food, in the most diligent manner; and I have been informed, by
gentlemen of undoubted veracity, that so exceedingly delighted are they
with it, as to employ negroes on no other business but to go into the woods
on purpose to procure these caterpillars, by digging them out of the bodies
of certain trees, the only places where they are to be found. Perhaps the
cossi of the Romans, a kind of food we are told they were much delighted
with, might be a species not much unlike this; however that be, these are
considered as amply recompensing, by their delicious flavour, the pains
taken to procure them.
Honey is a substance known to every one, and the agreeable liquor made from
it, which in some countries serves the inhabitants for their constant
drink, is not to be procured but by the industry of the agile bee.
In fine, the limits of this preface will not permit me to dwell minutely,
and point out the benefits mankind does, and may receive, by the
institution of this order of animals. I shall again refer my reader to the
book I mentioned before, "Stillingfleet's Tracts;" where he will find these
and many other advantages I have not mentioned, treated of in a most
ingenious manner; being the observations of some of the greatest men of the
university of Upsal in Sweden; for this reason, therefore, I shall consider
this subject no farther, but proceed to describe the plan of the work;
wherein, if the reader expects to find the insects classed in systematic
order, as well as represented, he will be greatly disappointed. It is not
my present design to enter into the scientific part of the study, by
arranging the insects according to any system now established; nor will the
reader find that I have given a single name to any one here figured. This,
indeed, must be the consequence of not following the system of any author,
unless I had formed one of my own; for it is impossible I should give names
to them, particularly trivial ones, without doing one or the other. The
calling an insect by the general appellation of moth, butterfly, &c. I
cannot consider as derogatory to what I have said. Hence I flatter myself I
shall avoid all occasion for reflection by the disciples of different
authors, in not following the method established by others; and, therefore,
my desire of giving no room for exceptions of this kind, has induced me to
follow no one whatever. By this, also, I have left it in the power of every
person to {xviii}class them according to his own fancy; and, as every one
has thus an opportunity of following his favourite author, none, I hope,
will object to a method, that will put it in his power of indulging his own
inclination.
I must here inform my readers, that this work can by no means be considered
as a complete one. The most transitory view will confirm this. Nor can I
take any merit to myself by its publication, unless the great care that has
been taken to give just and accurate figures of the subjects, in which the
different generical characters, according to the several authors I am
acquainted with, are truly represented, will entitle me to any.
Indeed, the many opportunities I have had of observing the great tendency
all kinds of insects have to perish and decay, particularly moths and
butterflies, first gave me the hint of preserving them from oblivion, by
thus delineating them on paper. For these last are of such tender and
delicate natures, that however pleasing and agreeable they may be to our
sight, they are not easily to be preserved with all their gay and striking
plumage. Our utmost care can only secure them to us a few years; and if
they are exposed to air or sunshine, we are quickly robbed of them; the
latter being capable, in a few months, of entirely destroying their
colours, and the first in as short a space, will totally consume every part
of them, leaving nothing behind but a little dust.
Hence it is, I have been induced to give figures of foreign insects. In
prosecuting which, the reader will find many that have never been described
by any author; and if the rescuing them by this method from the ravages of
time, if the delight and amusement arising from contemplating subjects of
this kind, or if an attempt to promote and encourage this branch of natural
history meets with the encouragement I hope for, I must assure the public,
no labour on my side shall be wanting to render it complete, by adding
future volumes, as the subjects I should receive from abroad, and my own
leisure, will enable me to do; and this, I flatter myself, I shall be able
to accomplish by the means of a few ingenious gentlemen situated in
different parts of the world, whose correspondence I am honoured with, and
by whose assistance I shall be able to give sometimes a tolerable history
of an insect, or as much of it as has fallen within their observation; by
which means, new subjects of speculation, some unnoticed circumstances in
insect life, may arise, that cannot fail of being an acceptable
embellishment. But I must observe, such pieces of information cannot be
expected to be numerous; for the difficulty of procuring the natural
history of foreign insects is so exceedingly great, that it is better
conceived than described. Few persons, who visit foreign countries, have
curiosity sufficient to prompt them to make such observations, or indeed
any enquiry, into the works of nature. The desire of acquiring wealth, by
the means of trade, is the grand motive that induces them to leave their
native country; observations in natural history being generally quite
foreign to their thoughts; the desire of extending their commerce, and
making their fortunes, taking entire possession of their minds, and
swallowing up every other consideration. Thus, we see, it is not from such
persons we must expect any improvements tending to promote this study; it
is {xix}only from men of a liberal and ingenious turn of mind, settled
there, that we can hope to have any information of the state of nature in
distant regions; and the scarcity of such men I have found to be exceeding
great. For these reasons the reader must not expect to find the caterpillar
and chrysalis of every insect represented. It is sufficient if I am able to
give figures of many exotics that have hitherto been unknown. The natural
history, the forms of the caterpillars, ways of life, haunts, &c. can, in
such cases, be known only to persons living on the spot, and who have
speculation enough to observe them. Whenever I receive such pieces of
information, they shall, certainly, not be withheld from the public.
When I first engaged in the business of describing the different insects
that compose the following work, I found myself surrounded with
difficulties of so unexpected a nature, that I had more than once
entertained thoughts of postponing, if not totally relinquishing so arduous
a task. Nothing but the strong desire I had of promoting the study of
natural history, could have led me to overcome a sense of my own incapacity
of writing with that precision, which the public eye demands; and,
therefore, I have reason to hope for the candid allowance of the ingenious,
to faults, which might, perhaps, escape from the pen of a _master_, on a
subject so new as the present. Among the rest, I laboured under no little
trouble from a want of knowing what names to give to many colours found on
the wings of some of the farinaceous tribe. The want of a _series_, or
standard for names to colours, is a matter much to be lamented in this
kingdom. I know no English author that has attempted it; perhaps the
arduousness of the task may be the reason it has not been done; for if we
form to ourselves an idea of the difficulty of bringing forth that
innumerable train of colours that is to be done from only a yellow, a red
and a blue, we may partly judge of the labour that man has to undergo who
shall attempt it. In my case, the great variety of tints to be found on the
insects, the harshness of some, the softness of others, together with the
manner of their running into one another, increases the difficulty, and
renders descriptions a matter of such labour, that nothing but the
strongest resolution and perseverance could overcome. From hence, I hope,
if the reader should chance to meet with any part among them, that does not
entirely correspond with the colour given to the print, he will impute it
to its proper cause, the painter. I know of no defects of this kind; but it
is not impossible some may have escaped my observation, among such a
multitude of figures which I had to correct. It is necessary I should
inform the reader, that all my descriptions have been taken from the
_natural subjects_ themselves, and not from the _coloured prints_ of them;
and that my intention therein, is not to give a perfect idea of the
insects, without the help of the figures, but only to assist the
imagination in knowing what is described. And when we consider the
advantages that good engravings have over verbal descriptions, the former
representing to the mind, at first view, the object designed to be
understood, without putting us to the trouble of calling all our ideas, all
our powers of conception to our assistance, in order to discover what is
intended to be described; {xx}while the latter, though given by the best
writers, often puzzles and confounds the mind, if our ideas do not keep
pace with the author's meaning, the present work, by having every coloured
figure explained, must render it superior to any hitherto published in this
kingdom. The last author that published any figures of exotic subjects in
natural history, was Mr. Petiver, who, in his Gazophylacium, delineated a
great variety of all the different _orders_; many of them exceeding curious
and uncommon, being collected from various parts of the world. But they
were sent forth uncoloured, and almost undescribed; circumstances that
render them less estimable by the difficulty there is, in many instances,
of knowing what the author meant; the shape of the animal, plant, &c. being
the principal, and, sometimes, the only thing, we can understand. But
although many of the figures consist of mere outlines, not exquisitely well
engraved, it is not without merit. There are a great many very uncommon
subjects exhibited, that were not known to exist in nature, till he held
them forth to public view. It is, in short, a work, that, at the same time
it manifested his desire for promoting his favourite study, was a proof of
his assiduity, affording great room for speculation; and as the present is
an improvement on his plan, I flatter myself it will not be unacceptable to
the lovers of natural history. There is yet another advantage arising from
the descriptions, that is not less than what I have already mentioned. If
this work should fall into the hands of a bookseller, after my decease, the
public would not probably be pestered with copies so execrably coloured, as
is generally the case with books of this sort, after the author's death;
the descriptions will be such a guide for colouring the prints, that
capital errors will not be able to find admittance: the grossness of
colouring a part yellow that should be red, or green, that ought to be
blue, would immediately be detected; and the publisher, for his own sake,
would undoubtedly be careful to have the prints justly and accurately done.
The experienced naturalist will perceive, that, throughout the quotations,
I have not availed myself of any of the ancient authors. I have scarcely
mentioned Mouffet, Aldrovandus, and others. It is certain, the figures to
be seen in the works of most of the ancients are so bad, I dared not give
any quotation from them. The incorrectness of the outlines, the
irregularity and impropriety of the spots and marks, together with the
looseness of the engravings, renders them too imperfect for any one to
venture mentioning them. Indeed they are, in general, so little expressive
of the insect intended to be represented, that no dependance can be had on
their figures, especially the farinaceous winged tribe. Clerck, Merian,
Roesel, Petiver, &c. are the authors I have principally mentioned, among
the iconographers; and if the insect has been figured by a great many
authors, as particularly Plate 34. Fig. 7, 8. I have only mentioned a few:
the rest may be known by looking into the Systema of Linnæus[12], under the
title mentioned in the quotation. This author is the principal one I have
quoted among the descriptive writers: his great judgment in this study, the
plain method he has laid down for the classing of insects, together with
the {xxi}excellency of his generical characters, are what must endear him
to every professor of this study. I speak only of that part relating to the
insect kingdom; the merits of the other parts are best known to those
conversant in the respective branches. I must not here pass over a
circumstance, which it is proper to apprize my readers of, by way of
apology for giving a few figures (but a few) that have been published
already in this kingdom. When I first laid down the plan of this work, I
had no intention of confining myself to those subjects that were
non-descripts; but proposed to give figures of any exotic insects that
might fall into my possession, or what I could procure drawings of, by the
assistance of those gentlemen who were friends to an attempt of this sort.
I was willing to promote this branch of natural history, by any method that
lay within the compass of my little sphere. This I was the rather prompted
to, by the consideration of its being an attempt entirely novel in this
nation, and conducted in a way different from any yet pursued. But a little
recollection convinced me I was wrong. I was soon sensible, that the giving
figures, already known and published here, could do no service to the
study, or benefit the reader; it is possible I might give a better figure
than that before published; the engraving might be softer, more delicate,
and better becoming the subject; or the colouring more exact and just: but
this would not be improving the reader's judgment, or increasing his
knowledge. In short, from that moment I altered my plan; and it is to this
mistake a few figures are inserted in different places, which have before
made their appearance in England, either separately, or mixed with other
subjects of natural history. From that time I took care to delineate none
that I was conscious had engaged the pencil of any preceding author; but
confined myself to such, whose novelty and striking appearances could not
fail to recommend them. To such non-descripts I have paid the greatest
deference; for in some of the plates, among the butterflies and moths, I
have given complete figures of both the upper and under sides; a practice
that, as deviating from my general rule, I should not have done, if the
richness and softness of the colouring had not been so extremely pleasing,
as to render it scarcely possible to dispense with it. It is only to a few
I have paid this particular respect. In general, I have given to the
butterflies, only figures of one half their under sides, but whole upper
ones; and of those moths that have no representations of their under sides,
the reader may conclude there is no material difference between their upper
and under ones, or else the latter is too poor and mean to justify the
giving a figure of it. I must just mention, that although I used this
forbearance to those figures that had been heretofore published, I by no
means meant to debar myself from representing such as had been only
_verbally_ described; as is the case with a great many to be met with in
the Systema of Linnæus, and in other authors. The refraining, therefore,
from such subjects, would have been rather condemnable than fit to be
approved, for the reasons I mentioned before, of the great difficulty there
is in understanding, sometimes, the best verbal descriptions that ever were
given; therefore figures of this kind may not improperly be considered as
explanatory, or as illustrations to {xxii}such verbal descriptions,
affording the student a two-fold pleasure, by comparing them together.
If the reader has made no progress in the study of natural history, he will
probably find it difficult to understand the several _names_, or _terms_,
the different parts of insects are called by; and which occur in every
description. For this reason I think it incumbent on me to give the most
plain and familiar explanation of them I possibly can. This I have done two
ways; by methodical definitions, and figures; and in both of them shall
make no scruple to follow the method laid down by that great master of
natural history, the judicious Linnæus, whose excellent plan, for the
knowledge and classing of insects, demands the utmost thanks and regard
from every lover of this branch of science. From his plan I have taken the
hint of giving some figures of different genera, with the proper names of
the respective parts in a plate by themselves. By these the reader will not
only be greatly assisted in understanding the descriptions; but it will
enable him to class them with more facility, if he is inclined to do so. I
therefore go on to explain, first the _terms_ used throughout the whole;
and afterwards the distinct and different _parts_ of insects. In doing
this, I divide them into
ORDER, CLASS, GENUS, and SPECIES.
_Order_, is a general term, applicable to a whole race of animals,
whereby they are distinguished from each other, as beasts, birds, fishes,
&c.[13]
_Class_, a term by which insects, as well as other animals, are divided
into their respective genera or tribes, as the farinaceous, crustaceous,
transparent, &c.[14]
_Genus_, a term dividing each class, as butterfly, moth, hawk-moth,
constitute the farinaceous (Lepidoptera); dung-beetle, lady-bird,
goat-chaffer, and many others, make up the crustaceous (Coleoptera);
cockroach, locust, bug, and some others, form the semi-crustaceous
(Hemiptera, Linn.), &c.[15]
_Species_, a term comprehending a distinct or individual sort in each
genus, as the pearl-bordered, admirable, skipper, &c. among the
butterflies; egger, drinker, peppered, &c. among moths, &c.
To these I must add the word
_Variety_, a term by which two insects of the same species are known,
though differing a little (not characteristically) in colour, size,
&c.[16]
{xxiii}I shall next proceed to explain and describe the different parts
composing insects, by dividing them into the Head, Thorax, Abdomen, and
Limbs.[17]
The HEAD (Fig. 1, 2, 3, _a_.) includes the ANTENNÆ, MOUTH, PALPI, EYES,
TONGUE, JAWS, and HORNS.
The _Antennæ_ are formed of various shapes, according to the different
genera, as may be observed in the figures, and seem instituted by nature
not only for guiding the animal in its passage, but likewise for other
purposes; being endued with an exquisite sense of feeling and perception.
Fig. 1. _d d_. Fig. 2. _c_. Fig. 3. _c c_.
The _Mouth_ is placed in the head, but sometimes close to the breast, as
in the spider tribe; sometimes terminating in a horny beak, as in Plate
32. Fig. 1. also in Plate 42. Fig. 3 and 7. In some it is furnished with
strong mandibles like pincers, as in Plate 32. Fig. 6. and Plate 37. Fig.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In others it is so covered and guarded by the palpi,
particularly among the moths, that it is not to be seen.
The _Palpi_ are parts placed close to the mouth, and variously shaped; as
may be seen by comparing those of the Lepidopterous with those of the
Coleopterous, and other tribes; consisting of a greater or less number
according to the species or genus; in some being only two, in most of
them four, and in some six, (Cicindela, Carabus, Linn.) The use and
purpose of these parts we are ignorant of. Fig. 1. _c c_. Fig. 2. _b_.
Fig. 3. _b b_.
The _Eyes_ are generally immoveable, and suited differently; in some to
see only in the night, in others in the day; and differ in number
according to the genera and species, having in general two only, but in
some five,[18] in others eight, as the spiders. Fig. 1. _b b_. Fig. 3. _d
d_.
The _Tongue_ (elongated maxillæ) is sometimes curled up spirally like the
spring of a watch, as in butterflies and some moths, &c. in others it
(including the labium) is doubled under the head, as in bees and wasps;
but a great many species are destitute of this elongated part.
The THORAX is principally composed of the BACK, BREAST, and in some the
SCUTELLUM, in others the MESOSTERNUM and DILATED POSTERIOR COXÆ.
The _Back_, dorsum or upper part, answering to the back in some animals,
terminates in some species in a triangular manner, so as to represent the
scutellum, as in Plate 33. Fig. 5, 6, and 8. Tab. Ann. Fig. 1. _f_. Fig.
2. _e_.
The _Breast_, or sternum, is the under part of the thorax, and always
furnished with legs.
The _Scutellum_ is a small but hard part like a scale, frequently of a
triangular shape, placed behind the dorsum of the prothorax, and joining
to it. It is not developed in every genus, being chiefly perceived in the
Coleopterous, Hemipterous, and transparent-winged orders.
The _Mesosternum_ is united to the fore part of the breast, extending
beyond the middle legs towards the fore ones; and observable only in some
species of the Coleopterous order. By Linnæus and several other authors
it is called sternum.
{xxiv}The _Posterior Coxæ_ are only conspicuously enlarged in some
particular species (dung beetles). There are two of them placed on the
sides of the breast next to the abdomen, under the hinder thighs. In some
they are placed remote and distinct from it, in others they lie close;
being moveable in some, in others they are fixed. The use of these parts
we are ignorant of.[19]
The _Abdomen_ consists of a number of annuli or rings, and contains the
greatest part of the intestines and other viscera; being united to the
trunk, and formed with holes on the sides, through which the insect
breathes.
The LIMBS comprehend the TAIL, LEGS, and WINGS, with their cases.
The _Tail_ is placed at the extremity of the abdomen; and in some is
furnished with a sting, in others it is armed with a pair of forceps;
sometimes with a single bristle, sometimes with a double one; in some
with a pair of claws like a crab, in others like a fork.
The _Legs_ include the coxæ, trochanters, femora, tibiæ, and tarsi; the
latter consisting of two, sometimes of three, four, or five
articulations. In some the fore ones resemble a crab's claws. Some are
furnished with spines, others are smooth and plain. The hinder ones are
formed for running, leaping, or swimming.
The _Wings_, being always two or four, are either plain or folded, erect
or open, lying flat or inclining downwards, &c. In some they are dentated
or scolloped; and some are furnished with two projections like tails.
They are also membranaceous, reticulated, or transparent, and frequently
adorned with beautiful colours. In some they are curiously folded within
two crustaceous cases, that are either smooth or rough, striated,
furrowed, punctated, &c. in some these cases are soft and flexile, in
others hard like horn; the Hemipterous are partly soft and transparent,
as in Plate 49. Fig. 2. and partly opake and hard, as in Plate 42. Fig.
1. Plate 43. Fig. 2. and Plate 45. Fig. 5.
It is necessary to observe, that I have not been so prolix and explanatory
in the foregoing definitions as I should be, if I intended to arrange the
figures under their respective classes, or establish any system for doing
so; I have explained no more _terms_ or _parts_ than what are sufficient to
enable the reader (if he is not an adept) easily and clearly to understand
the descriptions. It is likewise necessary to mention, that I have given
English names to most of the parts, where I could do it with the necessary
propriety for serving this particular purpose; and where I could not
substitute an English word, that was apposite and significant, I have
preserved the Latin one, as used by Linnæus and others. Thus, for instance,
the term palpi I would have altered, if I could have found an English word
that conveyed the same idea; but not easily finding one, I have kept to the
original. I have not forgot the terms mustachios, whiskers, &c. which I
might have used in its stead; but as these parts in many insects bore no
analogy or resemblance thereto, it being in a great many of them like a
short jointed filament or thread, I rather chose to preserve the Latin one.
The same practice I have observed with the term antennæ. For though feelers
is the general explanation given to this word, I could not prevail with
myself to use it. The reason is, because these animals seem to have a power
{xxv}of applying these parts to purposes different from that of feeling. By
the antennæ they are capable of distinguishing and perceiving, as well as
feeling; and I am strongly inclined to believe, it is by them the males are
capable of discovering the females at a great distance. It is certain their
powers of perception are very obvious and remarkable, which, by close
observations, we may soon discover; and unless we allow them capable of
smelling without nostrils, I do not know what parts they exercise, or by
what means they so readily discover, not only their females but their
respective kinds of food, the places proper for depositing their eggs, &c.
The male moths appear to have this faculty of discovering their females in
a greater degree than most other insects; for there are but a very few, if
any, belonging to this genus, whose females pass the first night after they
quit the chrysalis without coupling with the males; owing to unconquerable
_desire_ in the latter, and the strong effluvia or scent emitted by the
former for attracting their mates. Every adept is fully acquainted that a
female moth, known by the name of the Egger (Phalæna Quercus of Linnæus),
taken into the fields the first day it is hatched, will most certainly
(though shut up in a box) allure all the males round the country that are
within the sphere of its attraction, and even from a great distance; who
will at first fly round the box with wonderful swiftness and eagerness, and
afterwards settling thereon will hunt and run about it with the greatest
impatience, endeavouring to get at the inclosed female; and all this from
the strongest desire of copulation; for the minute that action is performed
by a male, the attractive property of the other ceases. The powers of
perception and distinction, therefore, are very great; and what parts of
the insects, unless it be the antennæ, are employed in this search I am at
a loss to discover. However, at present, I presume it will not be necessary
to offer any further reasons for using this term, as the name substituted
is sufficient for it to be known by, it will fully answer the intended
purpose.
The names of the other parts are too intelligible to require any
explanation.
The plate annexed (being the last thing I shall speak of) requires but
little to be said in its favour. The use and advantage of it is too obvious
to dwell on. I have already mentioned, that engravings and delineations
claim the preference in the highest degree of verbal descriptions; and as
such, I presume, the reader will find this plate of the greatest service in
assisting him to understand the descriptive parts with clearness and ease.
I must only recommend it to him, if he is desirous of avoiding difficulty
and trouble, to make himself fully acquainted with the terms and names of
all the parts of insects, before he begins to read the descriptions.
[Illustration]
Explanation of Fig. I.
_a_ The head.
_b b_ The eyes.
_c c_ The palpi.
_d d_ The antennæ.
_e e_ The shoulders. The patagia, or tippets, are placed here.
_f_ The thorax. The part underneath and opposite to this is termed the
breast.
{xxvi}_g_ The abdomen, with the annuli or rings of which this part is
composed; very conspicuous in such of the Lepidoptera as are figured in
Plate 27, 28, and 29.
_A A_ The anterior wings.
_B B_ The posterior wings.
_h h_ The bases of the wings.
_i i_ The tips.
_k k k k_ The anterior margin.
_l l_ The posterior or internal margin.
_m m m m_ The external edges.
_n n_ The lower corners of the anterior wings.
_o o_ The upper corners of the posterior wings.
_p p_ The abdominal edges. In the butterfly tribe this part forms the
abdominal groove.
_q q_ The anal angle.
_r r_ The tails; whereof some species have four, as in Plate 1, 2, and
7.
_s s_ The eyes on the wings. From round spots resembling an eye.
_t_ A waved bar.
_u u_ An irregular indented bar.
The terms upper side and under side, mentioned in all the descriptions of
the farinaceous tribe, require no explanation.
Explanation of Fig. II.
_a_ The head.
_b_ The palpi.
_c_ The antennæ.
_d_ The eyes.
_e_ The dorsum of the prothorax, commonly called the thorax in beetles;
whereof the under part is the prosternum.
_f_ The lateral margin of the thorax.
_g_ The posterior margin of the thorax.
_h h_ The upper horn.
_i i_ The lower horn.
_k_ The scutellum.
_l l_ The wing cases, or elytra.
_m m_ The suture.
_n n_ The lateral margin of the wing cases.
_o_ The anus.
_p_ The fore thigh.
_q_ The middle thigh.
_r_ The hinder thigh.
_s s_ The fore tibiæ.
_t t_ The middle tibiæ.
_u u_ The hinder tibiæ.
_w w w w w w_ The tarsi.
_x x x x x x_ The articulation of the tarsi with the tibiæ.
_y y y_ The articulation of the tibiæ with the femora.
_z z z_ The hooks or claws, (ungues.)
Explanation of Fig. III.
_a_ The head.
_b b_ The palpi.
_c c_ The antennæ.
_d d_ The eyes.
_e_ The prosternum; whereof the upper part is the prothorax.
_f_ The mesosternum.
_g g_ The dilated posterior coxæ.
_h h h h_ The abdomen, with its annuli or rings.
_o_ The anus.
_p_ The fore thighs.
_q q_ The middle thighs.
_r r_ The hinder thighs.
_s s_ The fore tibiæ.
_t t_ The middle tibiæ.
_u u_ The hinder tibiæ.
_w w w w w w_ The tarsi.
_x x x x x x_ The articulation of the tarsi with the tibiæ.
_y y y y y y_ The articulation of the tibiæ with the femora, or thighs.
_z z_ The hooks or claws, (ungues.)
Fig. IV. is inserted only to shew the three little eyes, which are placed
in a triangular manner, and mentioned in some of the descriptions, viz.
Plate 43. Fig. 4, 5, 6, &c.
{1}ILLUSTRATIONS
OF
EXOTIC ENTOMOLOGY.
----
PLATE I.
[Illustration]
NYMPHALIS (CHARAXES) JASON.
Plate I. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera, _Linn._ SECTION: Diurna, _Latr._ FAMILY: Nymphalidæ,
_Swainson_.
GENUS. NYMPHALIS, _Latr._ Papilio Eq. Achiv. _Linn. Drury_. Papilio
Nymphalis, _Fabr._
SUBGENUS. Jasia, _Swainson_. Charaxes, _Boisduval_.
NYMPHALIS (CHARAXES) JASON. Alis fuscis, anticis utrinque strigâ maculari
limboque apicali fulvis, posticis bicaudatis, ordine postico macularum
sublunarium fulvescentium, omnibus subtus ad basin ferrugineis
caracteribus fasciâque albis. (Expans. Alar. 3-4. unc.)
SYN. Papilio Jason, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 749. _No._ 26. _Herbst. tab._
64. _f._ 3. 4. 5. _Cram. pl._ 339. _f._ A. B. _Drury, vol._ 1. _p._ 2.
Pap. (Nymphalis) Jasius, _Fab. Ent. Syst. t._ III. _part_ 1. _p._ 61.
191. _Drury, vol._ 2. _App._
Nymphalis Jasius, _Latr. et Godart. Enc. Meth. v._ 9. _p._ 350. 1.
Charaxes Jasius, _Boisduval Hist. Nat. Lepidopt. pl._ 7. _f._ 12.
(_imago_) _pl._ 3. _A. f._ 9. (_larva and pupa._)
HABITAT: Barbary, Asia Minor, and the Northern Coast of the Mediterranean
Sea.
_Upper Side._ The anterior wings are of a fine chocolate, with an
orange-coloured margin running along the exterior edge, within which are
some faint round orange spots; those next the anterior edge, where they
begin, being strongest. The posterior wings are furnished with four tails
(the outer ones being the shortest) and are of a blue black. A yellow
scolloped margin runs round their external edges, verged with black;
above which are some lunate spots of a sky blue.
_Under Side._ The anterior wings, next the body, are of a faint dark red,
with many spots and marks of a dirty olive, differently shaped, margined
with white. An orange margin runs along the exterior edge, intersected by
the blue tendons; and above it are several triangular marks of a faint
orange, on a blueish hazel ground, which deadens as it approaches the
margin. The posterior wings have on each a white band, running
transversely, and meeting just below the extremity of the body; within
which, and including the anal groove, are many round, oval, and other
shaped marks of chocolate and dark olive; verged with white. A scolloped
margin, of a deep lemon colour, runs along the posterior edges, verged
with dirty green, and separated from the white band by a bar of hazel
colour, and some large brown reddish spots and marks. Two blue spots are
placed just above the two longest tails, with several lesser ones, just
above the lemon-coloured margin.
I have thought it more in accordance with the principles which are now
almost universally adopted, in regulating specific nomenclature, to revert
to the original Linnæan {2}name of Jason in preference to that of
Fabricius. This butterfly may be regarded as one of the most splendid of
the Lepidoptera of Europe, to the southern portion of which and to the
northern shores of Africa it appears to be confined. The strength of its
general structure indicates great powers of flight, and we accordingly find
that it is able to sustain itself in the air with very little motion of the
wings. The female differs from the male only by having the centre of the
posterior wings adorned with small blue spots on the upper side. There are
two broods in the year, namely in June and September, and, according to M.
De Villiers, the insect emits a strong scent of musk. The caterpillar is
naked and thickened in the middle of the body; the tail tapering into two
short points, the head is also armed with two conical erect horns. In this
respect, therefore, this insect very nearly approaches the genus Apatura,
of which the purple Emperor, Ap. Iris is the type, thus proving the
advantages to be obtained, in studying the natural relations of this
difficult order of Annulosa, from an accurate acquaintance with the
structure and habits of the early stages of the insect.
There are several species, having the same general form as the Jason,
including Athamas, pl. 2. fig. 3. 4; Eudoxus, vol. iii. pl. 33. f. 1. 4;
Camulus, vol. iii. pl. 30. f. 1. 2. Mr. Swainson has, accordingly, formed
them into a distinct group, to which he has given the name of Jasia, in
pursuance with his customary, but scarcely correct plan, of raising the
specific name of the typical species into a generic name, and then giving a
new specific name to such type. M. Boisduval, rejecting this system of
nomenclature, has more recently proposed for the same group the name of
Charaxes, which I have adopted.
Amongst the species very nearly resembling Jason, is one sent from
Africa[20] to Mr. Drury by Mr. Smeathman, which, according to the
observations of that traveller, published by Drury, in the introduction to
his third volume, flies in the heat of the day with amazing rapidity, and
seldom descends within eight feet of the ground. It glances from the
prominent branches of one tree to those of another, as swift as a swallow,
and turns its head about instantly to the glade, or path, and will not
suffer any person to approach within a striking distance of it, but darts
away on the least motion of the body. If the collector exert his patience
it will at last become more familiar and careless, and is then to be caught
upon some particular branch, to which it will appear more attached than to
another.
{3}THECLA ACIS.
Plate I. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Lycænidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. THECLA, _Fabr._ (Syst. Gloss. Synops. in Illig. Mag.) Polyommatus,
_Latr. et Godart_. Cupido p. Schrank Papilio (Pleb. rural.), _Drury_.
THECLA ACIS. Alis suprà fuscis subtùs pallidioribus, posticis bicaudatis
maculâ rufâ ad angulum ani, subtùs punctis duobus fasciâque obliquâ
albis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Papilio Acis, _Drury, App. v._ 2. (1773). _Cram. pl._ 175. _fig._ C.
D.
Papilio Mars, _Fabr. Mant. Ins._ 2. 66. _No._ 624. (1787). _Herbst. Pap.
tab._ 288. _f._ 1. 2. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. 265. 24. (Hesperia M.)
_Encycl. Meth._ 9. 635. (Polyommatus M.)
Papilo Ixion, _Fab. Mant. Ins._ 2. 71. _No._ 671?
HABITAT: New York (_Drury,_) taken on 31st August. South America
(_Fabr._): Antilles (_Godart_). Cape of Good Hope (_?? Cramer_).
_Upper Side._ The anterior wings are entirely dark brown, without any
spots or marks.--The posterior wings the same, with four tails, the inner
ones much longer than the others; close above which latter are two red
spots, edged at the bottom with black, and two more, placed at the anal
angle. The cilia is white.
_Under Side._ All the wings are of a dark lead colour. A very narrow
black and white line crosses the anterior wings, parallel to the external
edges; another indented irregular line crosses the posterior wings,
beginning near the middle of the anterior edge, and meeting just below
the extremity of the body. Four long reddish spots are very visible on
this side, below which are four black ones.
This species is nearly allied to Papilio Echion, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 788.
figured by Roesel, tom. i. tab. 7. f. 3. 4. which is also an American
species, but differs, as Drury observes, in wanting the red spots on the
upper surface of the lower wings, in having a red line crossing the wings
on the under side, &c.
THECLA SIMAETHIS.
Plate I. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Lycænidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. THECLA, _Fabr., Horsfield_. Polyommatus, _Latr. et Godart_.
Hesperia, _Fabr. olim._ Papilio (Pleb. rur.) _Drury_.
THECLA SIMAETHIS. Alis supra fuscis, nitidis, subtus flavo-viridibus,
vittâ transversâ argenteâ, posticis apice ferrugineis strigâ è punctis
margaritaceis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Pleb. rural.) Simaethis, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Herbst. Pap.
tab._ 280. _f._ 3. 4. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 286. _No._ 97.
(Hesperia S.) _Latr. et God. Enc. Meth._ 9. 643. 97. (Polyommatus S.)
HABITAT: Saint Christopher's (_Drury_). Surinam (_Fabr._)
_Upper Side._ The wings are brown, tinged with blue. The cilia white,
posterior wings with two tails like hairs, of a chocolate colour; the
tips being white.
_Under Side._ The anterior wings are green next the anterior edge, but
along the interior one are of a greyish flesh colour. A narrow silver
line begins at the anterior edge, about a third from the tips, and
crossing both superior and inferior wings, meets near the extremity of
the abdomen, running across the inferior wings in a very irregular,
indented manner, and having its upper side verged with chocolate. The
{4}posterior wings, above this line, are of a deep pea-green; but below
it soften into a flesh colour, which continues along the external edge,
from the upper to the anal corner; whence rises a jagged, indented,
chocolate line, that runs across the wing, parallel with the silver line,
whereon are several dark blue spots, shining like polished steel.
Nearly allied to the common British species, Thecla Rubi.
PLATE II.
[Illustration]
POLYOMMATUS THERO.
Plate II. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Lycænidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. POLYOMMATUS, _Latreille et Godart_. Lycæna, _Fabr._ (Syst. Gloss.
Synops. in Illig. Mag.) Papilio (Nymph. Phalerat.) _Drury_. (Pleb.
rural.) _Linn._
POLYOMMATUS THERO. Alis dentatîs, suprà nigricanti-fuscis, fúlvo
maculatis, posticis subtùs nebuloso-cinereis maculis linearibus
nitenti-albis, maculà disci majori, apicibus uncinatâ. (Expans. Alar.
lin. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Pleb. rur.) Thero, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 787. _No._
219. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 274. _No._ 57. (Hesperia rural).
_God. et Latr. Enc. Meth._ 9. 602. _No._ 154.
Hesperia Erosine, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 266. _No._ 28.
Papilio Salmoneus, _Cramer, Ins. t._ 1. _pl._ 2. _f._ 1.
Papilio Rumina, _Drury_, (exclus. syn. Linn.)
HABITAT: Cape of Good Hope.
_Upper Side._ The wings are dentated, and of a fine dark brown colour.
The anterior having seven square discoidal red spots, of different sizes.
The posterior ones are furnished with four short tails, two on each;
above which are three small red spots.
_Under Side._ The anterior wings are red at the base; but along the
external and interior edges are of a rusty grey brown, with several dark
marks or clouds thereon. Near the anterior edge, towards the base, are
three black spots, with three small white ones in their centres. The
posterior wings are of a rusty grey brown, darkest in the middle, with a
margin of a paler colour, running along the external and part of the
upper edges. Several spots, of a silver white, are dispersed on different
parts of the wings; some being round, long, triangular, &c. About the
middle of each wing is a long silvery mark, running in a direction from
the base to the external edge; being about half the length of the wing.
Drury confounded this species with the European Papilio Rumina, Linn.
belonging to a distant genus (Thais), whilst Fabricius described it twice
under the specific names cited above.
ERYCINA LYSIPPUS.
Plate II. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Lycænidæ?
GENUS. ERYCINA, _Latr._ Hesperia (rurales), _Fab._ Papilio (Pleb. rur.)
_Linn. Drury_.
ERYCINA LYSIPPUS. Alis fusco-nigris, singularum utrinque fasciâ tenui
aurantiacâ; posticis angulatis, subtùs ad basin griseo maculatis.
(Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Pleb. rur.) Lysippus, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 793. _No._
250. _Cramer, pl._ 380. _f._ A. _Fabricius Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 321.
_No._ 218. (Hesperia rur. L.). _Latr. et Godart, Encycl. Méthod._ ix.
_p._ 566. _No._ 11. (Erycina L.)
HABITAT: Jamaica (_Drury_). Guiana and Brazil (_Latr. et God._).
{5}_Upper Side._ The wings are of a chocolate-black. On the anterior is
an orange-coloured line, which, rising about the middle of the anterior
edge, crosses the wing towards the anal angle, where it suddenly bends,
and terminates at the posterior edge. The posterior wings, which are
angulated, have a circular orange line, rising at the anterior edge, near
the corner, crossing the wings, and meeting near the anal angle.
_Under Side._ The wings are of the same colour as on the upper side, with
the same orange line, whereon, in the anterior pair, are some white
spots. Between this and the base are several faint, dirty grey, oblong
spots, namely, four on the anterior, and about twenty on the posterior
wing. The base of the anterior margin of the fore wings, and the anal
margin of the posterior wings, are of a red colour.
HIPPARCHIA EUMEA.
Plate II. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swainson_.
GENUS. HIPPARCHIA, _Fabr._ Satyrus, _Latr. et God._ Papilio (Danai
Festivi), _Drury_.
HIPPARCHIA EUMEA. Alis integris subfuscis, anticis utrinque strigâ latâ
fulvâ, subtus serie communi punctorum alborum. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.) Eumeus, _Drury, App. to v._ 2. (1773).
_Cramer, pl._ 183. _fig._ C. D.
Pap. (Nymphal.) Gripus, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. 149. _No._ 457.
_Herbst. Pap. tab._ 135. _No._ 3. 4.
Satyrus Gripus, _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth. v._ ix. _p._ 497. _No._ 70.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). India (_Fabricius_).
_Upper Side._ The wings are entire, and of a deep brown, with a broad
luteous fascia, rising near the anterior edges of the fore wings, running
along near the tips, and ending at the external margin.
_Under Side._ The wings are the same colours as on the upper side. The
anterior, with five whitish spots on each, placed in a row, near the
external margin. The posterior have on each sometimes five, and sometimes
seven spots, of the same colour, placed in a circular row, meeting near
the extremity of the body.
I have reverted to the name given by Drury, in preference to following
Fabricius, and the authors of the Encyclopédie Méthodique.
NYMPHALIS (CHARAXES) ATHAMAS.
Plate II. fig. 4.
ORDER Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Sw_.
GENUS. NYMPHALIS, _Latr._ SUBGENUS. Charaxes, _Boisduval_. (See page 1.)
NYMPH (CH.) ATHAMAS. Alis supra nigris, utrinque fasciâ mediâ latâ glaucâ
subhyalinâ, subtus lunulis ferrugineis marginatâ. (Expans. Alar. 3. unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Equit.. Achiv.) Athamas, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Cramer, Pap.
pl._ 89. _f._ C. D. _Encycl. Méthod._ 9. 353. (Nymphalis A.)
Papilio Pyrrhus, _Donovan_. _Insects of India_, _pl._ 4. _f._ 2. (exel.
syn. Linn.)
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). India (_Donovan_). Java (_Latr. et God._).
_Upper Side._ The head is brown, with four minute yellow frontal spots.
The wings are dentated, and of a fine red brown, each with a broad
brimstone coloured bar, rising near the middle of the anterior wings;
and, crossing them and the posterior ones transversely, meeting near the
extremity of the body. {6}Above these, near the tips, are two small oval
spots of the same colour. The posterior wings have four tails, of nearly
equal length, above which are seven small brimstone spots, placed on
each, along the external edge.
_Under Side._ The broad transverse bar is of a pearl colour, being
surrounded next the body by a narrow red brown border, edged with black,
between which and the base, are two small black spots. The two spots,
near the tips, are also seen on this side, being of a pearl colour. The
external edges of the anterior wings are of an olive colour; the
remaining parts being of a very resplendent greyish purple. Several small
kidney-shaped marks are placed along the outer side of the pearl bar. The
posterior wings have a narrow orange-coloured border running along their
external edges; and above it, are seven small black spots, edged at the
top with white. Above these is a shade of brown olive, over which are
some black angular marks, with red crescents above them.
Donovan has confounded this species with the Linnæan Pap. Pyrrhus, although
Drury had previously pointed out the diversity of the two species.
PLATE III.
[Illustration]
EREBUS ODORA.
Plate III. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Noctuidæ.
GENUS. EREBUS, _Latr._ Thysania, _Dalm._ Noctua, _Fabr._ Phalæna
(Attacus), _Linn. Drury._
EREBUS ODORA. Alis dentatis fuscis, nigro undatis, anticis ocello atro
auriformi fulvo marginato; posticis sesquialtero. (Expans. Alar. 7½ unc.)
SYN. Phalæna (Attacus) Odora, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 811. _No._ 11.
_Sloan. Jam._ 2. _t._ 236. _f._ 13. 14. Noctua Odora, Fabr. Ent. Syst.
III. 2. p. 10. No. 8. Gmelin, Linn., S. N. 2529. 11. Cramer, Ins. tab.
169. _fig._ A. B. _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 8. 252. 7.
HABITAT: Jamaica, Antigua, and other West Indian Islands (_Drury_).
Surinam (_Fabricius_).
_Upper Side._ The body and wings are of a dark brown. The latter are
scolloped, the anterior having, near their anterior margin, towards the
middle, a black eye on each, shaped like a human ear, whose iris is of a
dark orange colour; and, near the anal angle, towards the external edge,
is a black scolloped line, running half way up the wing, joining to which
(under it) is a bar of a very soft and delicate brown colour, differing
from the general tint of the wings. The posterior wings have, on each,
near the external edge, a mark somewhat like a large eye; upon whose
under edge are two semi-eyes, one black, the other the same colour as the
wings. Many agreeable shades, of a lighter colour, and ingrailed lines,
run across all the wings.
_Under Side._ The head, breast, and legs, are the same colour as the
upper side; except the thighs of the fore legs, which are red. There is
very little variety of colours on this side, except a purplish hue,
visible when held in a declining direction.
Drury notices another insect, also received by him from Saint
Christopher's, of smaller size, and differing only in having a narrow
indented bar, of a flesh colour, crossing the upper and lower wings, and
which, he thinks, may possibly be the other sex of the insect here figured;
considering also, that the references to Linnæus and Sloane, apply rather
to the smaller insect. Fabricius states, that the female of Odora is
distinguished by having a fascia, composed of three waved white lines, in
the middle of the wings.
{7}SPILOSOMA ACREA.
Plate III. fig. 2. [female]. 3. [male].
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Arctiidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. SPILOSOMA, _Stephens_. Arctia p. _Schrank_. Eyprepia p.
_Ochsenheim_. Bombyx p. _Fabr._
SPILOSOMA ACREA. Alis niveis (postieis [male] fulvis), punctis nigris,
costalibus majoribus; abdominis dorso fulvo nigro maculato. (Expans.
Alar. [male] 2 unc.--[female] 2¾ unc.)
SYN. [female] Phalæna (Bombyx) Acrea, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
[male]. Phal. (Bomb.) Caprotina, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
Bombyx Acria, _Fab. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 451. _No._ 137. _Abbot and
Smith, Ins. Georg. tab._ 67. (exclus. _Syn. Fabr._ B. lubricepidæ).
Arctia Pseuderminea (_Peck_), _Harris in Massachus. Agricult. Repos.
vol._ 7. _p._ 328. _and tab. annex_.
HABITAT: New York, Maryland, Virginia (_Drury_).
MALE..--_Upper Side._ The antennæ and eyes are black; the thorax and
extremity of the body cream colour; he abdomen yellow, spotted on the top
and sides with black. The anterior wings are cream coloured, spotted with
black. The number of spots very uncertain, except five which are placed
on the anterior edge, and six on the external one. The cilia yellow, as
are the posterior wings, on each of which are three black spots, two near
the external edge, and one near the middle.
_Under Side._ The breast and thighs are yellow; the abdomen and legs the
same, chequered and spotted with black. All the wings are yellow, spotted
in the same manner with black, as on the upper side.
FEMALE.--_Upper Side._ The head and thorax white. The abdomen yellow,
with black spots on the sides and top, the extremity being white. All the
wings are white, with black spots, whose number is very variable; but, on
the anterior edges of each anterior wing, are placed five, and on the
external edges, six.
_Under Side_. The legs are black and white, the thighs yellow; the
abdomen white, spotted with black. All the wings are white, with black
spots, most of which, observed on the upper side, being seen on this.
This species is closely allied to the common British species, Spilosoma
lubricepida, and Menthrastri; but is of larger size, the spots being also
larger. The two figures given by Drury, are now ascertained to be the sexes
of the same species, as, indeed, our author had surmised might be the case.
It appears to be a very common species, and is stated by Drury to breed
twice a year, namely, in June and September. The caterpillar is very hairy,
and when young is white; as it advances in age, it acquires a fox colour,
and, in its last skin, becomes almost black. Dr. Thaddeus W. Harris, a
distinguished American entomologist, to whom I am indebted for many
valuable insects of that country, has published a very interesting notice,
in the work above cited, upon this insect, under the title of "The Natural
History of the Salt-marsh Caterpillar," under which name the larva of this
insect is commonly known, and which is exceedingly destructive to grasses
of various kinds. He states, that when nearly full-fed, "they become very
voracious, and continue eating all the day and night without intermission.
Soon they leave the meadows, aggregated in great numbers, and commence the
wandering state, or begin to run, as is the phrase, devouring everything in
their progress; corn-fields, gardens, and even the coarse and rank
{8}produce of road sides, afford them temporary nourishment, until they
have found a place of security from the wind and weather." Dr. Harris, in a
communication to me, has stated, that he had ascertained that this insect
was the Acria of Fabricius, and that Professor Peck's name must, therefore,
be rejected. Abbot observes, respecting this caterpillar, that it is "a
general devourer of all field and garden-plants, and weeds. It spun up in a
thin web, intermixed with its own hairs, on the 16th of May, and the moth
came out on the 2d of June. Others of the autumnal brood, taken in
September, spun up on the 18th of that month, and remained in the chrysalis
until the 21st of April."
PLATE IV.
[Illustration]
CETHOSIA CYANE.
Plate IV. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. CETHOSIA, _Fabr. Latr. et God._ Papilio (Nymphal. Phalerat.),
_Drury_.
CETHOSIA CYANE. Alis dentatis nigris, lineâ communi tenuissimâ angulatâ
marginali, anticis fasciâ posticis disco (nigro punctato) albis. (Expans.
Alar. unc. 3½.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Cyane, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Herbst. Pap.
tab._ 248. _fig._ 3. 4. _Cramer, Pap._ 25. _pl._ 295. _fig._ C. D. _Fabr.
Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 115. _No._ 352. _Latr. et God. Encycl. Méthod._
ix. _p._ 247. (Cethosia Cy.)
HABITAT: Bengal (_Drury_). India (_Fabr._).
_Upper Side._ The anterior wings are dentated and black: the anterior
edge of a dirty olive brown; in the middle whereof a broad white bar
arises, and runs transversely towards the middle of the external edge,
where, stopping at the distance of a quarter of an inch, it forms, with
some faint white spots, a black border along the external edge, whereon
is a row of narrow white angulated marks. The posterior wings, which are
deeply dentated, are white; with a deep black border running along the
external edge, whereon is a row of white angulated marks, as on the
superior wings, and above each of them is a series of short white
streaks, running parallel with the edge of the wing. Above these are six
round black spots, one situated between each nerve, and over them six
more smaller, and fainter; several more spots being dispersed on the
white parts of the wings, some very distinct, and others very faint.
_Under Side._ The anterior wings are red, which colour extends from the
base nearly half along the wing, and which, towards the posterior edge,
softens to a cream-colour. On this red ground are some short black lines,
with blue ones between them, extending between the two principal nerves.
The external edge has a black margin; whereon the white angular marks are
seen more distinctly, being here shaped like beards of arrows. Above this
border, near the external angle, are two oval black spots, or eyes, whose
irides are white, having between them and the black border a row of
small, round, black spots, placed close together. The white bar described
on the upper side is also seen here. Several more black spots, of various
forms, are dispersed on different parts, particularly a group in the
centre of the wing. The inferior wings are white, with pale
cream-coloured clouds; but next the base are white, blue, and red, with
black streaks, from whence a shade of blue and brown runs along the
anterior edge to the external angle, where a black border commences,
whereon are angular white marks, like arrow beards or points. This border
continues to the abdominal corners, where two small, curved, black lines
meet together, and form an arch. Above the black border is a row of small
black spots, and above them are six larger, with several others, of
different shapes and sizes, dispersed on various parts of the wings.
{9}The insect described in the Encyclopédie Méthodique, from Malabar,
differs from that figured by Drury, in having the disc of the posterior
wings of a fulvous buff colour, and the spots larger, with the markings at
the base of this pair of wings, on the under side fulvous instead of blue.
Is this to be regarded as a variety, the opposite sex, or a distinct
species?
CETHOSIA BIBLIS.
Plate IV. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Sw._
GENUS. CETHOSIA, _Fab. Latr. God._ Papilio (Nymphal. Phal.), _Drury_.
CETHOSIA BIBLIS. Alis subrotundatis dentatis fulvis, extimo fusco,
lunulis albis anticarum serie triplici digestis (intermediâ minori),
posticis ante marginem maculis nigris, singulis subtùs ad basin lineis
maculisque flavis variis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Biblis, _Drury, App. v._ 2. (1773). _Cramer,
Pap._ 15. _pl._ 175. _fig._ A. B. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 248. _fig._ 1. 2.
Papilio (Nymph.) Penthesilea, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 114. _No._
349. (exclus. Syn. Crameri.)
Cethosia Biblina, _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 248.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). From the collection of the late Mr. Lee of
Deptford.
_Upper Side._ The anterior wings, next the shoulders, are a brown orange,
occupying half the wings; the other half, next the tips, are of a rusty
red brown, whereon is a row of white crescents running along the external
edge. Above this are five white squarish spots, and over them a row of
angulated marks, like points of arrows, with white spots in their
centres, above which is a single white spot, between which and the
shoulders are some short black waved lines, extending between the two
principal nerves. The posterior wings are entirely of a brown orange,
except a rusty red-brown border that runs along the external edge,
whereon is a row of white crescents, and above it are six black spots
running parallel with the border, beneath which is a denticulated line of
dark brown.
_Under Side._ The anterior wings, next the shoulders, are of a brown
orange, reaching half way along the wings, the remainder being rusty
yellow. On the orange ground, next the shoulders, are several black,
irregular, short lines, placed two and two, the middle, or spaces between
them, being clay-coloured. Two small black spots are placed on the
anterior edge, on each side near the base. Along the external edge is a
row of white angulated lines, above which is a row of ash-coloured marks,
with some dark spots thereon; and over this, is another row of
ash-coloured marks, shaped like acute angles, with an oblong streak in
the centre of each. The posterior wings at the base are dark orange, but
toward the external edges are rusty yellow, on which is a row of
crescents on a dark border. Above this is a circular bar or band of a
flesh colour, having a row of dark spots on the lower edge, and the upper
edge shaped like acute angles, with a black triangular mark in each, and
a white spot in its centre. About a quarter of an inch above this bar is
another of a clay colour, about one-eighth of an inch broad, with dark
spots and marks on it, some of which resemble Greek characters. Over this
bar is another near the base, of a clay colour, with a double row of
black marks or streaks on it.
Fabricius has confounded this species and another, under the name of
Penthesilea. Latreille and Godart have altered the specific name proposed
by Drury to that of Biblina, "parce qu'il a été imposé ultérieurement à un
genre de Lépidoptères diurnes." I have, however, restored the specific name
of Biblis, because the same name, was not {10}proposed for a genus by
Fabricius, until many years after the publication of Drury's work, in the
Synopsis of the Systema Glossatorum, published in Illiger's Magazine; and
because the employment of a proper name, like Biblis, for a species, even
when previously used for a genus belonging to a perfectly distinct group,
is not incorrect.
PLATE V.
[Illustration]
CYNTHIA HUNTERA.
Plate V. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. CYNTHIA, _Fabr. Stephens_. Vanessa p. _Latr. et God._ Papilio
(Nymph. Gemmat.), _Drury, Fabricius_.
CYNTHIA HUNTERA. Alis subangulatis dentatis fulvis, nigro variegatis;
anticis apice productis albo maculatis; posticis infra ad basin griseo
reticulatis, ad extimum ocellis duobus magnis notatis. (Expans. Alar. 2
unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph.) Huntera, _Fab. Syst. Ent. p._ 499. _No._ 240.
_Herbst. Pap. t._ 178. _f._ 5. 6. _t._ 179. _f._ 1. 2. _Abbot and Smith,
Ins. Georgia, vol._ 1. _tab._ 9.
Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Cardui Virginiensis, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
Papilio Iole, _Cramer, Pap._ 1. _pl._ 12. _f._ E. F.
Papilio Bella Donna Virginiana, _Petiv. Gaz. Dec._ 4. _tab._ 33. _fig._
5.
HABITAT: New York, Maryland, Virginia (_Drury_). Brazil to Georgia (_Enc.
Méth._).
_Upper Side._ The base of the wings tawny orange; the anterior, dentated
and angulated; the tips and external edges are brownish black, on which
are five white spots near the external angle, the largest being round.
The remainder of the wings is of a fine orange brown, with several black
marks thereon, near the anterior edges. The posterior wings are a little
dentated, and of a brown orange colour like the anterior, having five
black spots placed near the external edge of each, two of which being
larger than the rest have blue centres, below these is a black border,
with a row of brown-orange crescents running along the middle. The cilia
is black and white.
_Under Side._ The anterior wings at the base are greyish, beyond which
they are beautifully adorned with rose-coloured and black marks, having
three white spots on each near the external edge, with several clouds and
marks of different colours placed at the tips and anterior edges. The
posterior wings are of a beautiful agate colour, with many lines and
narrow bars branching from, and intersecting one another under different
directions (like lines in a map), so as to form spots and clouds of
different shapes. Each wing has two eyes placed near the external edge,
one larger than the other, the pupils being of a blueish hue and the
irides black, the small one having a yellow circle within it; below
these, a purple line runs parallel with, and near to the external edge.
The caterpillar of this insect is described by Drury as being green, with
black rings round the body, and as feeding about New York upon the wild
balsams, appearing about the latter end of July, or beginning of August.
Once in about five or six years they are exceedingly plentiful, at other
times very scarce; a peculiarity also noticed in the very nearly allied
European species, Cynthia Cardui (the Painted lady), of which species,
indeed, Drury appears to have regarded it as a geographical variety.
The caterpillar, according to Abbot, is of a brown colour, with the
incisions, and a {11}lateral line yellow; it has also two dorsal lines,
formed of alternately white and red points; the head is black, and the
spines, with which the body is armed, are of the prevalent colour of the
surface. It feeds upon the Gnaphalum obtusifolium. The chrysalis is rather
yellow, with black spots, and is assumed towards the end of April or
beginning of May. The butterfly appears at the end of about ten days. It
continues breeding during the summer, and is very commonly seen sucking up
moisture from damp places near houses. The caterpillar folds and spins the
leaves together, in the same manner as the English Painted lady, Cynthia
Cardui.
PIERIS (THESTIAS) PYRENE?
Plate V. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PIERIS, _Schrank, Latr. et God._ Pontia, p. _Ochsenh. Horsfield_.
Papilio (Danai Candidi), _Linn. Drury_. Thestias, _Boisduv._ Teracolus,
_Swains_.
PIERIS (THESTIAS) PYRENE. "Alis flavis primoribus apice (medio fulvo)
nigris, subtus nebuloso maculatis. Habitat in China." _Lin. loc. cit.
infra._ (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Dan. Candid.) Pyrene, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 762. 86? _Latr.
et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. 120.
P. Evippe, _Lin. var. teste_. _Drury, App. vol._ 2.
Pap. (Dan. Cand.) Sesia, _Fab. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. 203. 636.
Thestias Pirene, _Boisd._ _Hist. Nat. Lep._ 1. _p._ 593. No. 3.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). Asia (_Linn._).
_Upper Side._ The anterior wings near the base are of a brimstone colour;
the tips and external edges being of a dark brown, nearly black,
surrounding a large patch of a fine orange. The posterior are of
brimstone colour, with a border round their edges of dark brown. The male
has not this border.
_Under Side._ Black; all the wings brimstone, without any marks, spots,
or clouds whatever in the female, the male having its under side of a
brighter yellow, with several reddish-brown spots on the inferior wings.
There is the greatest confusion respecting the specific names of this, and
several nearly allied species, which would be very difficult to unravel.
Drury considered this insect as a variety of Evippe, whilst Fabricius,
Latrielle, and Godart, give it as identical with the Linnæan Pyrene, which
opinion I have adopted, although I am by no means certain as to the
identity of the species; the under side of the wings offering no trace of
the central discoidal black spot existing in that species. M. Boisduval has
not diminished the confusion, in his work just published, by giving a
species from Guinea, under the name of Evippe (which Linnæus states is from
China), with the erroneous observation, "Il est probable que les anciens
auteurs auront confondu sous le nom d'Evippe trois ou quatre espèces
_Africaines_."--_Hist. Nat. Lépid._ 1. p. 574.
{12}CYNTHIA LAOMEDIA.
Plate V. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. CYNTHIA, _Fab._ Vanessa p. _Latr. et God._ Papilio (Nymph.
Gemmat.), _Linn. Drury_.
CYNTHIA LAOMEDIA. Alis dentatis cinerascentibus lineis fuscis transversis
undulatis ocellisque (quibusdam coecis) serie posticâ digestis; anticarum
sex, posticarum quinque. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Gemmat.) Laomedia, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 772. _No._
145. _Fabricius, Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 98. _No._ 302. _Cramer_, _pl._
8. _f._ 10. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 174. _f._ 1. 2.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). East India (_Linn._). Java (_Enc. Méth._).
_Upper Side._ The wings are of a greyish purple and a little dentated.
The anterior have on each four irregular black lines, running from the
anterior edge near the body half way cross the wings, and six eyes on
each, near the external edge, whose irides are white, some of which are
oval, and one, being larger than the rest, is filled up with black and
red; some are very faint. The posterior wings have six oval eyes on each,
with white irides; three of which are more distinct than the rest, two of
them being filled up with red and black. Two dark irregular lines run
along and near to their external edges.
_Under Side._ The wings are rather paler than on the upper side. A small
irregular line begins about the middle of the anterior edge of the
superior wings, and running cross them and the inferior ones, meets below
the body. The anterior wings have a distinct dark spot, and also a faint
one. The posterior ones have two distinct red and black spots, and
another very faint.
PLATE VI.
[Illustration]
ARGYNNIS NIPHE.
Plate VI. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. ARGYNNIS, _Fabr. Latr. God._ Argyreus, p. _Scopoli_. Papilio
(Nymphal. Phalerati), _Linn. Drury_.
ARGYNNIS NIPHE. Alis supra luteis nigro maculatis, anticis ad apicem
coerulescenti-nigris fasciâ albâ transversâ; posticis subtus viridi,
argenteo, nigroque variis, strigâ quinque ocellorum notatis. (Expans.
Alar. 3 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Niphe, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 785. _No._ 208.
_Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 142. _No._ 436.
HABITAT: China.
_Upper Side._ The anterior wings near the base are of a brown olive.
About half the wings (from the lower angle upwards) are of a dark blue,
with many different shaped spots on them, and a white bar running from
the anterior edge towards the external one, which, being intersected by
the black tendons of the wing, appears like three steps. All the wings
are dentated or scolloped. The posterior ones are of a clay colour, with
many black spots on them, of various forms. A black border runs along the
external edges, narrowed as it approaches the external angle, on which
appear two rows of blue spots like crescents, whose convex sides are
placed opposite each other.
_Under Side._ The white bar on the anterior wings appears as on the upper
side, from whence to the tips is an olive colour, whereon are some silver
spots; the remainder as on the upper side. The posterior wings are of an
olive hue, finely variegated with some white silvery spots and marks. A
line of this colour runs along the external edges almost close to the
scollops, and above that are five round spots of a darker olive, with
small white dots in their centres.
{13}ARGYNNIS TEPHNIA.
Plate VI. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. ARGYNNIS, _Fab. Latr. God._ Papilio (Nymph. Phalerat.), _Linn.
Drury_.
ARGYNNIS TEPHNIA. Alis subrotundatis dentatis, supra luteis nigro
maculatis, posticis subtus viridi argenteo nigroque variegatis serie
quinque ocellorum. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Argynnis, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Herbst. Pap.
t._ 254. _f._ 5. 6.
Papilio Niphe, var. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 142.
P. Niphe mas. _Cramer, Pap._ 2. _pl._ 14. _f._ D. E.
Argynnis Tephnia, _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 262. _No._ 18.
HABITAT: China.
_Upper Side._ The wings are of a brown orange, having many black spots,
of different sizes and shapes on them. A black scolloped border runs
along the external edges of the posterior wings, whereon are two rows of
tawny red spots, appearing like crescents, with their convex sides placed
against each other. All the wings are scolloped or dentated.
_Under Side._ The anterior wings, toward the body, are brown orange. The
tips are of a yellowish flesh colour, with some olive spots on them, with
black spots, as on the upper side. The posterior wings are of a yellow
flesh colour, marked with some olive spots, and white marks, which seem
of a silver hue. A margin of olive colour runs along the external edges,
whereon is a row of flesh-coloured crescents (as on the upper side), with
an intersected narrow line above them. Over these, are five round olive
spots, of equal sizes, with a dot of silver in their centres.
The specific name given to this species by Drury, having the priority in
point of date, would have been retained, had it not been identical with
that of the genus to which it belongs. Engramelle and several other authors
have, inadvertently, given it as an inhabitant of the south of Europe.
PLATE VII.
[Illustration]
NYCTALEMON PATROCLUS.
Plate VII. fig. 1. (Upper Side). Plate VIII. fig. 1. (Under Side).
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Uraniidæ, _Westw._
GENUS. NYCTALEMON, _Dalman._ (Prod. Monogr. Castn.) Urania. Divis. C.
_Latr. et God._ Papilio (Equit. Achiv. _Linn._), Noctua, _Fabr._
(SUBGENUS. Orontes, _Swainson, Zool. Illustr. 2d. series_, 125.)
NYCTALEMON PATROCLUS. Alis supra fuscis, subtus griseis fusco undatis,
utrinque fasciâ communi mediá rectâ albâ, posticis caudatis. (Expans.
Alar. fere 6 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Eq. Achiv.) Patroclus, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 749. _No._ 24.
_Cramer, Pap. pl._ 198. _fig._ A. _pl._ 109. _fig._ A. B. _Herbst. Pap.
tab._ 54. _fig._ 2. 3. _tab._ 55. _f._ 1.
Noctua Patroclus, _Fab. Ent. Syst._ 3. 2. _p._ 8. _No._ 2.
Urania Patroclus, _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. 710.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). Java, Amboyna (_Enc. Méth._).
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are about an inch long, slender, setaceous, and
gradually diminishing from the base to the extremities. The head is
small. The thorax is clothed with long soft hair, and, {14}with the
abdomen, is of a darkish brown. A remarkable straight narrow line, or
bar, of a cream colour, arises from the middle of the anterior edge of
each of the fore wings, and, crossing both anterior and posterior wings,
ends at the abdominal edges, about half an inch below the abdomen; so
that, when the wings are extended, as in the figure, these lines, with
the anterior edges, form an equilateral triangle. The space within the
triangle is dark brown; but the parts, near the shoulders, are lighter,
having a greyish cast or hue, and contain many small transverse curved
streaks, extending to the anterior edges, where they are large, black,
and very conspicuous, like stripes. Some transverse markings of this
kind, are dispersed on the posterior edges of the superior wings, and
also on the abdominal edges of the posterior. On the outside the
triangle, both on the anterior and posterior wings, is a fascia, of light
brown, about half an inch broad, which deepens into a dark brown. On the
posterior wings, after becoming dark, it softens again into the same
light colour, continuing to the external edges. Each of these wings is
ornamented with two tails, the inner ones the longest and near an inch in
length, the tips of which incline towards each other; the lesser or outer
tails, are about half an inch long, strengthened by the tendons of the
wings passing through the middle of them; all of them being bordered with
a soft ray of dark brown.
_Under Side._ The bars or lines, which form the triangle on the upper
side, are not visible on this; but the inclosed triangular field appears
of a light greyish brown, darker at the borders, and thickly beset with
small brown streaks, parallel to each other, and surrounding the body.
The costal nerve of the anterior wings composes an edging in each, about
an eighth of an inch broad, which diminishes as it approaches the
external angle, white, and beautifully marked with black streaks, but
smaller than those seen on the upper side. Outside the triangle, both in
the anterior and posterior wings, is a broad border of white, which
softens into a brown, but lighter than that on the upper side. Both in
the white, and in the brown, are some small dashes of black, very thinly
dispersed. The internal margin of the posterior wings is furnished with a
deep fringe, and the black marks situated below the abdomen, are larger
and broader than those on the upper side. The tails are whitish, bordered
with brown, and appear as on the upper side.
This is one of those anomalous forms, whereof examples occur in every tribe
of animals, baffling the skill of the most profound systematists. By
Linnæus, and many other authors, it was considered as a butterfly, and
certainly the genus Urania (in which it is placed by Latreille), as we
learn from Mr. W. S. MacLeay's valuable memoir upon that genus, published
in the first volume of the Transactions of the Zoological Society of
London, is composed of day-flying species. Fabricius, however, regarded it
as a moth, belonging to the genus Noctua, and nearly related to the genus
Erebus, of which the Erebus Odora, figured in the third plate of the
present volume, is a conspicuous species; and when we examine the structure
of the palpi, and the spurs upon the posterior tibiæ, we find good reason
for adopting this relation, admitting, at the same time, that the group in
question is one which, from its various affinities and analogies, it is
very difficult to assign to any single section.
{15}CALLIMORPHA PHYLLIRA.
Plate VII. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Arctiidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. CALLIMORPHA, _Latr. Leach_. Hypercompa, _Steph._ Heraclia,
_Hubner_. Phalæna Bombyx, _Drury_.
CALLIMORPHA PHYLLIRA. Alis anticis nigris lineis albidis apicalibus,
literam B referentibus; posticis sanguineis maculis nigris. (Expans.
Alar. 1 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Bombyx) Phyllira, _Drury, Append. v._ 2. _Olivier, Enc.
Méth._ 5. 94. 236. _Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georg. tab._ 64.
HABITAT: New York; taken on the 12th day of July.
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are black, small, and thread-like, near half an
inch long; the head and thorax cream-coloured. Behind the head are two
black spots, and on the thorax are three others, longer, and running
parallel with it. The abdomen is scarlet, and on each segment is a black
mark, forming a row, united together in the middle. All the wings are
entire. The anterior ones black, with cream-coloured cilia; the interior
edge, and part of the anterior, next the body, are margined with cream
colour. A line of the same colour, runs from the body, parallel with, and
near to the posterior edge, quite to the external one, where, suddenly
returning, in a zigzag manner, it ends at the anterior edge, near the
tips, and forms two angles, like a B, with a line placed across its top,
or upper part. The posterior wings are scarlet, having a thin border of
black, running along their external edges, with four black spots above
it, those nearest the abdomen, being in shape like hearts.
_Under Side._ Like the upper: but the colours are more faint and less
distinct.
The caterpillar of this species is brown, with small dorsal and lateral
diamond-shaped yellow spots, emitting fascicles of hairs. It feeds,
according to Abbot, on the cross-wort, corn, peas, wheat, &c. One of the
caterpillars spun up on the 4th of April, and the moth appeared on the
29th. Another spun up on the 27th of May, and came out on the 16th of June.
It continues breeding during most part of the summer.
SPILOSOMA NAIS.
Plate VII. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Arctiidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. SPILOSOMA, _Steph._ Arctia, p. _Schrank_. Eyprepia, p. _Ochs._
Phalæna (Noctua), _Drury_.
SPILOSOMA NAIS. Alis anticis nigris lineis tribus longitudinalibus
fusco-fulvescentibus, duabus superioribus externè connexis, posticis
pallidioribus margine irregulari nigro. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) Nais, _Drury, Append. v._ 2
HABITAT: New York; taken on the 24th day of June.
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are black, and pectinated; the head and body
are of a light yellowish brown. On the thorax are three black marks,
running parallel with it, with several black spots on the abdomen. The
anterior wings are black; the cilia of a light yellowish brown, which
colour is continued along the interior edges, up to the body; some broad
lines, of the same colour, occupy about two-thirds of the wing, running
parallel with the anterior and interior edges. The posterior wings are of
the same light yellowish brown, with a faint black spot on each, having a
broad irregular border, of a faint black. {16}running along the external
edges, being very narrow in the middle. All the wings are plain and
entire.
_Under Side._ Exactly like the upper, but the colours are less brilliant.
This species is nearly related to our common British species, Spilosoma
lubricepida.
PLATE VIII.
[Illustration]
GEOMETRA TRANSVERSATA.
Plate VIII. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Geometridæ, _Stephens_.
GENUS. GEOMETRA, _Linn. Stephens_. Ennomos, _Treitschke, Duponchel_.
GEOMETRA TRANSVERSATA. Alis angulatis fusco-fulvescentibus undique
strigis minutis transversis fasciâque tenui communi obscurâ notatis.
(Expans. Alar. 2 unc.)
SYN. Phalæna (Geometra) transversata, _Drury, Append. v._ 2.
HABITAT: New York.
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are filiform, half an inch in length. The head,
thorax, abdomen, and wings, of a brown orange. All the wings are
angulated and besprinkled with small short transverse streaks parallel to
each other. A narrow brown line, beginning at the external angle of the
anterior wings, and running in a transverse direction, crosses them and
the posterior wings near the middle, meeting above the extremity of the
abdomen.
_Under Side._ Exactly like the upper in every circumstance, except that
the brown line is not to be seen.
This species seems nearly allied to the moths, which English collectors
call the Thorns, and to which Stephens restricts the name of Geometra, but
which M. Duponchel terms Ennomos.
BUPALUS CATENARIUS.
Plate VIII. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Geometridæ, _Steph._
GENUS. BUPALUS, _Leach_. Fidonia, p. _Treitschke_. Phalæna (Geometra),
_Drury_.
BUPALUS CATENARIUS. Fronte fulvâ; alis albis lunulâ mediâ; anticis
strigis duabus undatis (scil. ante et pone medium), posticis strigâ
unicâ, nigris. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Geometra) catenaria, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._
III. 2. _p._ 140. _No._ 41. _Gmel. Linn. S. N._ 2461. 660.
HABITAT: New York (_Drury_). "In Indiis" (_Fabr._).
_Upper Side._ The head is orange-coloured; the eyes black; the antennæ
are broad, and pectinated; the thorax white, with three spots of orange
colour, one at each shoulder, the other at the base of the abdomen, where
are two small black specks. The abdomen is white, and on each ring is a
small black speck. The wings are white; and, on each anterior one, are
two denticulated lines, running cross the wing, from the anterior to the
interior edge, in a circular manner; the one near the base, the other
{17}near the external edge, which last forms, on each nerve, a small
black speck like an arrow head. Between the two lines is a black spot
near the anterior edge. The posterior wings have a similar line running
cross them, from the anterior to the interior edges, in a circular
manner, and, meeting a little above the extremity of the abdomen, with a
black spot in each near the middle.
_Under Side._ Is similar to the upper, only the black spots are more
conspicuous.
PLATE IX.
[Illustration]
CERATOCAMPA IMPERIALIS.
Plate IX. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Bombycidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. CERATOCAMPA, _Harris, Append. to Hitchcock's Geology of
Massachusets_. Cerocampa, _Kirby & Spence, Ind. Introd. to Ent._
Odonestis, _Germar. Stephens._ Lasiocampa, _Latr. Schrank._ Bombyx,
_Fabr._
CERATOCAMPA IMPERIALIS. Alis flavis, fusco irroratis et variegatis,
omnibus infra maculâ discoidali subocellari fuscâ. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc.
9 lin. [male].--6 unc. [female].)
SYN. Phalæna (Attacus) Imperialis, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
Bombyx Imperialis, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 435. No. 89. _Gmel.
Lin._ S. N. 2417. 510.
Phalæna Imperatoria, _Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georgia, tab._ 55. _Oliv.
Enc. Méth._ 5. 56. 116.
Bombyx Didyma, _Pal. Beauv. Ins. Lep. pl._ 20.
HABITAT: New York (_Drury_). India (_Fabricius_).
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are of a reddish colour, broad and pectinated,
and, near the extremities, appear as if they were stripped of their
comb-like appendages. The thorax and abdomen yellow, clouded with a light
reddish-brown colour, inclining to crimson. The anterior wings are of a
fine bright yellow, with several clouds on them of the same brown colour,
whereof one takes its rise at the tips, and runs along the external edge
to the lower corners, being narrower at the extremities than the middle,
where it branches off, and unites to a large cloud near the shoulders.
The yellow parts of all the wings appear as if sprinkled with dark
irregular specks. The posterior wings are of the same bright yellow as
the anterior, and have, in the middle of each, a small brown eye, with a
lighter spot in its centre. An irregular bar of the same reddish brown
colour crosses these wings, which, beginning at the outer angle, meets at
the anal angle. The edges of all the wings are plain.
_Under Side._ The thorax and abdomen are yellow. All the wings are of the
same yellow colour, and sprinkled with brown as on the upper side. The
superior wings have on each a light reddish brown eye near the middle,
with a light spot in the centre, and a round brown spot above it. The
anterior margins next the body are of a reddish brown; and the same cloud
that appears along the external edge of each wing on the upper side,
appears also on this, but fainter. The inferior wings have a reddish
brown eye in each near the middle, with a lighter spot in the centre, and
of the same size as on the upper side.
The figure here given, is taken from the male; the female being much
larger, expanding full six inches; the antennæ being thread-like, and not
combed or pectinated as the male.
This species breeds twice in the year, namely in June and September. The
caterpillar, according to Abbot, feeds on the plane-tree (Platanus
occidentalis Linn.), oak, liquidambar, and pine trees. Some of them are of
a tawny colour, others tawny and orange, others green. They are furnished
with long rigid hairs, and the second and third segments of the body are
also armed with two pair of short, erect, rugose horns. {18}This insect is
placed by Mr. Kirby in his new genus Cerocampa, together with Phalæna
regalis, Fabr. Mr. Kirby had, however, evidently in view the caterpillars
of the latter insect, when he proposed this generic name, and which are
armed with numerous, long, erect, rigid spines, those near the head being
curved, and giving the insect somewhat the appearance of a cockatoo. This
larva is figured by Abbot and Smith, pl. 61, and specimens, admirably
preserved by Abbot, are contained in the collection of the Entomological
Society of London, presented by Mr. Kirby. There is also considerable
difference between the chrysalides of these two insects, that of imperialis
being more elongate, with a bifid tail, and with transverse rows of short
abdominal spines, of which the chrysalis of regalis is destitute. One of
the caterpillars observed by Abbot, went into the ground on the 16th of
September, and the moth came out on the 4th of July. They are extremely
difficult to rear in confinement.
NOCTUA SQUAMULARIS.
Plate IX. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Noctuidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. NOCTUA, _Auct._
NOCTUA SQUAMULARIS. Alis cinereis, anticis fasciâ irregulari centrali
ferrugineâ, lineis duabus externè cinctâ, posticis fasciis duabus
obscuris. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) Squamularis, _Drury, Append. v._ 2.
HABITAT: New York; taken on the 11th day of May.
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are brown, like fine threads. The tegulæ of a
pearl colour, standing up as if projecting from the back. The colours on
the anterior wings are divided by a strong bar of a deep chocolate,
running cross the wings near the middle, from the anterior to the
posterior edges. This softens into a deep slate colour, covering that
part of the wings down to the external edges. The part next the shoulders
is of a light ash or pearl colour, whereon are two small black spots or
stripes, situated near the anterior edge. On the dark part near the lower
corner, run two small black irregular lines, from the posterior edge; one
running cross the wing, the other only half across. The posterior wings
are of a lightish brown, having two bars of a deep brown (almost black)
rising from the abdominal edge, and crossing the wing upward, grow
broader and fainter as they approach the middle and anterior edge.
_Under Side._ Is of a faint russet colour, having little or no marking
thereon. All the wings are slightly dentated.
I am unable to ascertain to which of the modern genera of Noctuidæ, this
and the following species are referrible.
{19}NOCTUA UNDULARIS.
Plate IX. fig. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Noctuidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. NOCTUA, _Auct._
NOCTUA UNDULARIS. Alis subdentatis nigricantibus, strigis transversis
undulatis circiter 8. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) undularis, _Drury, App. vol._ 2.
HABITAT: New York.
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are brown and thread-like. The head, body,
abdomen, and wings are of a very dark brown, bordering on black, and
appear somewhat glossy. All the wings are a little dentated, and on the
anterior ones, from the base to the extremity, is a series of black
indented lines or bars, whereof the last or outer one is strong and
conspicuous, crossing the wing from the anterior to the posterior edges,
about a quarter of an inch from the external margin. The posterior wings
are marked exactly like the superior.
_Under Side._ Is of a lighter colour, with the same kind of markings, but
fainter.
PLATE X.
[Illustration]
NYMPHALIS FERONIA.
Plate X. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ. _Swains._
GENUS. NYMPHALIS, _Latr._ Papilio (Nymphales Gemmati), _Linn._ Papilio
Satyrus, _Fabr. (Ent. Syst.)_.
NYMPHALIS FERONIA. Alis subdentatis, supra coeruleo, fusco et albo
marmoratis, omnibus ocellis sex iride simplici. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6
lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Feronia, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 770. _No._
140. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 226. _No._ 710. _Cramer, pl._ 192.
_fig._ E. F. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 225. _fig._ 1. 2. _Latr. et God. Encycl.
Méth. p._ 428. (Nymphalis F.).
HABITAT: Surinam (_Drury_). India (_Linn. Fabr. incorrectly_).
_Upper Side._ Antennæ black, with two small white spots at their bases,
on the front of the head, and two more close to the eyes, on the top of
the head; likewise two on the neck, and two longer ones on the thorax.
The thorax and abdomen of a very dark blueish hazel. Anterior wings, next
the shoulders, of a dark blueish hazel, black at the tips and outer
margin, where are many different shaped flesh-coloured spots; the parts
nearest the shoulders having many denticulated marks and dashes of a blue
colour; some being also scattered all over the wings. About a third from
the shoulder, near the anterior margin, on each wing, is a short, red,
crooked line, which is seen on the under side. Near the outer margin are
five ash-coloured spots, all of them being encircled with black, and some
being edged with blue. Posterior wings of the same dark hazel as the
anterior; the external edges being black between the scollops. Each wing
is divided into a number of small different shaped spots margined with
blue; and near the external margin are six black spots, whose irides are
blue, having white ones in their centres. Below these is a double row of
blue marks, like beards of arrows, placed on the black marks between the
scollops. All the wings are dentated.
_Under Side._ Anterior wings whitish, about a third part at the base; the
remainder being a dark chocolate, with many different shaped ash-coloured
spots. Near the external edges are five round ash-coloured spots on a
row, one being placed above the rest. Posterior wings chiefly whitish,
except at the {20}outer angle and external edges; the latter being
alternately marked with dark chocolate and ash colour, near which is a
row of four round ash-coloured spots, encircled with chocolate, and a
small faint one near the anal angle.
PIERIS (IPHIAS) GLAUCIPPE.
Plate X. fig. 3. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PIERIS, _Schrank. Latr. et God._ Colias, _Horsf._ Papilio (Danai
Cand.), _Linn. Drury._ Iphias, _Boisduv._
PIERIS (IPHIAS) GLAUCIPPE. Alis supra albis, anticis maculâ magnâ apicali
(medio fulvo) nigrâ, subtus (nisi dimidio basali anticarum) cinereis
strigis minutis fuscis irroratis. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Dan. Cand.) Glaucippe, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 762. _No._ 89.
_Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 198. _No._ 618. _Cramer, Pap. pl._ 164.
A. B. [male]. C. [female]. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 96. _f._ 1-3. _Encycl.
Méth._ ix. _p._ 119. (Pieris G.), _Boisduval_, _Hist. Nat. Lep._ 1. _p._
596. (Iphias G.)
Fem. Pap. Callirhoe, _Fab. Mant. Ins._ 2. 20. 215.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). Java (_Dr. Horsfield_). Bengal (_Boisduval_).
_Upper Side._ Head and neck light brown; thorax, dark blue, clothed with
white hairs; abdomen white, with a blueish tinge. Anterior wings next the
body white, occupying more than one half. The tips are black, which
colour runs along the anterior and external margins, encircling a large
spot of a deep orange, whereon are four small triangular black spots.
Posterior wings wholly white, and very slightly dentated.
_Under Side._ The mouth, breast, and feet are ash-coloured. Anterior
wings next the body white; the extremities of a deep flesh colour,
sprinkled over with a great number of small dark brown streaks. Posterior
wings of a yellowish flesh colour, and covered with small dark brown
streaks.
M. Boisduval has formed the present species, and another large Pieridean,
into the genus Iphias, which differs from Thestias, and Mancipium
(Anthocharis Bdv.), in the structure of the antennæ. The larva and pupa of
this species are described and figured by Dr. Horsfield, in his Lepidoptera
Javanica, pl. 3, fig. 7, and 7a, (copied by Boisduval, pl. 2A. fig. 3.).
The former is long subcylindrical, with the dorsal segments somewhat
rugose, being transversely shagreened; it feeds upon the Capparis. The pupa
is navicular, the head being produced into a point. The female imago
differs from the figure here given (which represents the male), in having
the black markings more diffused.
PLATE XI.
[Illustration]
PAPILIO PHILENOR.
Plate XI. fig. 1. and 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PAPILIO, _Auct._
PAP. PHILENOR. Alis dentatis nigris, posticis caudatis virescenti-nitidis
maculis albis, subtus maculis fulvis albo notatis serieque digestis.
(Expans. Alar. unc. 3¾).
SYN. PAP. PHILENOR, _Linn. Mant._ (1771). 6. 535. _Fabr. Syst. Ent._ _p._
445. _No._ 12. _Smith and Abbot_, _Ins. Georgia_, _Vol._ 1. _tab._ 3.
_Encycl. Méth._ 9. 40. _Boisduval_, _Hist. Nat. Lepid._ 1. _p._ 324.
_No._ 167. _Boisd. et Leconte_, _Icon. Lep. Amer. Sept._ _pl._ 11. _f._
1-4. _Say_, _American Ent. Vol._ 1. _pl._ 1.
Pap. Astinous. _Drury_, _App. Vol._ 2. (1773). _Cramer_, 208. A. B.
HABITAT: North America, from New York to Georgia.
{21}_Upper Side._ Head and neck black, with two small white spots between
the antennæ at their base, and eight more on the head and neck. Thorax
black. Abdomen of a glossy hue. Anterior wings black, with a very glossy
greenish tinge at the anterior angle, with eight small, white, narrow
crescents on the external margin of each, which make them appear as if
dentated. Posterior wings of a dark glossy green, with two tails issuing
from them. The concave part of each scollop is edged with white; and six
whitish spots run along their edges, meeting below the extremity of the
body.
_Under Side._ Breast, legs, and abdomen black; the sides spotted with
cream-coloured spots, one of which appears on the inferior wings, on each
side the breast. Anterior wings, next the tips, are of the colour of
soot; but next the body, black, with five whitish spots on the external
margin, near the interior angle. The upper part of the posterior wings,
next the body, are soot-coloured; the remaining parts of them being of a
glossy blue, with seven dark orange spots, placed in a circular manner, a
little distance from the edge, and meeting at the extremity of the body:
each spot is encircled with black, except in that part where a small
silver mark appears on its edge, being represented in the plate by white.
The scollops are deeper edged on this side with white than on the upper.
This butterfly is one of the most beautiful, and, at the same time, most
common of the North American species; abounding wherever the Aristolochia
serpentaria grows, the larva feeding upon that plant. It is described by
Boisduval and Abbot, and is brown, with four rows of small fulvous
tubercles, and a row of brown spines near the legs; moreover, it has two
long spines directed forwards upon the first segment, three upon the
penultimate, and two upon the tenth segment. The neck is also furnished
with a furcate retractile reddish tentacle; the chrysalis is of a violet
grey, or reddish colour, with two yellow spots, the head being truncate.
The female is larger, with brown-coloured wings, with cupreous reflections.
The insect assumes the chrysalis state on the 26th of April, and the fly
appears on the 4th of May. Another, observed by Abbot, went into chrysalis
on the 21st of June, and the butterfly came out on the 5th July. The latter
delights to frequent the blossoms of the peach and other trees in the
spring.
PAPILIO ASTERIAS.
Plate XI. fig. 2. 3. and 5.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PAPILIO, _Auct._
PAPILIO ASTERIAS. Alis dentatis nigris, fasciâ maculari maculisque
marginalibus flavis; posticis caudatis, angulo ani fulvo, puncto atro,
abdominis dorso duplici serie punctorum flavorum. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6
lin.--4 unc.)
SYN. PAPILIO ASTERIAS, _Fabr. Mant. Ins._ _tom._ 2. _p._ 2. _No._ 13.
_Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 6. _No._ 16. _Cramer_, _tab._ 385. _f._ C. D.
_God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 58. _No._ 91. _Boisduv. et Lec. Icon. Lep.
Amer. Sept._ _pl._ 4. _Boisd. Hist. nat. Lep._ 1. 332. _No._ 175.
Papilio Troilus, _Drury_, _App. Vol._ 2. _Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georg._
1. _t._ 1. (_exclus. Syn. Linn. et Fabr._)
HABITAT: New York, Maryland, Carolina, Virginia (_Drury_).
_Upper Side._ Antennæ, head, and body black, with two yellow spots at the
bases of the antennæ, and two more on the neck; the sides of the abdomen
being spotted with two rows of the same. {22}Anterior wings black. A row
of eight or nine yellow spots runs along each wing, near the external
edge. Within these appears another row, smaller in figure 3, but larger
in figure 2, and shaped like triangles, above which are two spots, one
nearly round, the other very oblong, which last is not seen in figure 3.
Posterior wings black and dentated, with one tail issuing from each. Six
yellow spots appear near the external edge; and at the anal angle is an
orange-coloured one, with a black dot in its centre. Some specimens have
a yellow bar running transversely from the row of triangles on the
superior wings, and meeting below the extremity of the body, just above
the orange spot, as in fig. 2. In some, instead of a bar, is seen a row
of spots (as in fig. 3), which are sometimes very faint. Where this
happens, the space between this row and the six spots mentioned before,
consists of a shining blue colour; but in proportion as the yellow bar is
more or less distinct, the wings have more or less blue on them.
_Under Side._ The under side in all the different varieties differs but
very little. The breast, sides, abdomen and feet are black. The anterior
wings of a dirty black colour, with nine yellow spots near the external
edge; above these, nearer the body, are eight others, varying in size,
and two small clouds or patches close to the anterior edge. Posterior
wings, next the shoulders, dirty black, with the inner scollops edged
with yellow crescents (appearing also on the upper side), within which
are six spots near the edge--four orange and two yellow. Seven or eight
orange spots, tipped with yellow, run circularly across the middle of the
wing. Below each spot in this row is a ray of shining blue, separated by
a strong black mark, and scattered with powder-like spots. An orange
spot, with a black centre, is placed at the anal angle.
This species is subject to considerable variation in the size of the
internal series of yellow spots, which is sometimes even entirely
obliterated in the females, in which the yellow is much less brilliant, and
the spots smaller than in the males. These varieties somewhat resemble
Papilio Troilus of Linnæus, with which, indeed, Drury and Smith[21]
confounded the insect here described. Godart and Boisduval have added to
the confusion by their incorrect references to our author, the first of
these writers giving figure 2 of this plate as alone representing P.
Asterias, and figs. 3, 4, and 5, (which represent two distinct species) as
P. Troilus, Linn. which species Drury has not figured; and both of these
authors quoting figure 2, both under Troilus and Asterias, although Drury
expressly states, that the specimens figured at 2 and 3, were reared by
him, with many other individuals, from chrysalides, sent from America by
his correspondent, who assured him that they proceeded from the same brood.
The preparatory states of P. Asterias are figured by Abbot and Smith, and
Boisduval. The larva feeds upon Umbelliferæ, especially the fennel (Anethum
fæniculum, Linn.), and Daucus Carota, and is very similar to that of Pap.
Machaon, which species appears to be replaced in America by P. Asterias,
and which makes its appearance in the perfect state three times in the
year. Abbot states, that one of the caterpillars assumed the chrysalis
state on the 12th of July, and the imago appeared on the 20th.
{23}PLATE XII.
[Illustration]
PAPILIO PARIS.
Plate XII. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PAPILIO, _Auct_.
PAPILIO PARIS. Alis nigris, aureo-viridi pulverulentis, posticis caudatis
supra maculâ magnâ discoidali cyaneâ ocelloque purpureo; subtus lunulis
septem rufis. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc.--4 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Equit. Troes.) Paris, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 745. _No._
3. _Fab. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 1. _No._ 1. _Cramer, pl._ 103. A. B.
_Esper. Aus. Schmett. tab._ 2. _fig._ 1. _Boisduval, Hist. Nat. Lep._ 1.
_p._ 208.
HABITAT: China.
_Upper Side._ Head, thorax, and abdomen black, and beautifully powdered
with fine green specks. All the wings are black, but have a greenish hue,
occasioned by a multitude of powder-like specks of a fine green. On the
posterior margin of the anterior wings, near the lower corner, arises a
series of green spots, becoming weaker, disappearing near the middle of
the wing, and composed of powder-like specks. Posterior wings scolloped
or dentated, each furnished with one tail, each scollop being edged with
white. At the anal angle, near the corner, is a deep red spot, shaped
like a semi-eye, whose pupil is black; and towards the upper corner of
the wing, is a large and very splendid blue spot, appearing in some
directions of a saxon green colour, and diminishing to a line as it
approaches the semi-eye, over which it extends in an arch-like form,
being there of a fine green colour.
_Under Side._ It has apparently no palpi. Breast and abdomen of a very
dark brown. The superior wings dark brown at the base; from the middle of
the anterior edge of a dark ash colour, running towards the upper corner,
the tendons between being dark brown, which unite together at the
external edge. Posterior wings almost black, sprinkled, or finely
powdered, with small grey specks near the abdomen; round the external
edge is a series of eye-like rings of an orange colour, edged above with
purple.
This very handsome species is often received from China, but in an
imperfect condition. The female, according to Godart (Enc. Méth. ix. p.
67.) is the Papilio Bianor, Fabr. which has no trace of the shining green
spot on the posterior wings. M. Boisduval, however, asserts, that this is
not correct, and that the female differs only from the male in having the
ground of the wings rather darker, and possessing a transverse interrupted
fascia of green dots near the external margin of the upper wing; these
being represented in Drury's figure, therefore indicate that his specimen
was of the female sex.
Dr. Horsfield has figured another species from Java (Lepid. Javan. pl. 1.
fig. 14.), differing very slightly from the preceding, under the name of
Papilio Arjuna, of which he has also figured the larva and pupa (pl. 4.
fig. 11.). The former has the three first segments of the body covered, as
it were, with a leathery shield, elevated behind, and ornamented with
several ocelli; the other segments are simple; the chrysalis is
considerably curved, with the head bifid.
{24}COLIAS (CALLIDRYAS) PYRANTHE, _var._?
Plate XII. fig. 3. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach._
GENUS. COLIAS, _Latr. et God._ Papilio (Danai Candidi), _Drury_.
Callidryas, _Boisduval_.
COLIAS (CALLIDRYAS) PYRANTHE. Alis albis, anticis supra puncto minuto
discoidali apiceque nigris, margine interno penicillatis, subtus (nisi
basi anticarum) flavescentibus strigis numerosissimis fuscis. (Expans.
Alar. 3 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Dan. Cand.) Pyranthe, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 763. _No._
98? _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 97. (Colias P.), _Boisduval,
Hist. Nat. Lepid._ 1. _p._ 611. (Callidryas P.)
Papilio (Dan. Cand.) Chryseis, _Drury, Append._ vol. 2.
Papil. Gnoma, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 210. _No._ 658?
Pap. Nepthe, _Fabr. loc. cit. p._ 120?
HABITAT: China.
_Upper Side._ Thorax of a blueish black, with white hairs. Abdomen white.
Anterior wings white, with a small oblong black spot near the middle of
each; black at the tips, which colour extends down the external edge to
the interior angle, and also runs a little way along the anterior margin
towards the body. Posterior wings white, without any marks or shades. The
edges of all the wings are entire.
_Under Side._ Breast, feet, abdomen, and anterior superior wings white,
being covered about a third part from the tips with small, longish,
light-brown streaks, making that part appear of a pale yellow. Posterior
wings of the same pale yellow with the small streaks. One sex is very
remarkable for having a number of hairs growing on the posterior edges of
the anterior wings, next the body; some of which are erect, some bending
downwards, and some lying flat on the wing.
There is much confusion respecting the specific names of this and several
other Asiatic species, as may be seen from the citations in the synonyms. I
have followed the French authors in assigning Drury's insect to the
Pyranthe of Linnæus, although that author describes his insect as having a
discoidal red spot on each of the wings beneath. The species of this group
are variable in the intensity of their markings, and the males are less
strongly marked than the females; and as Drury's figure represents a male
(distinguished by the bundle of hairs on the interior margin of the
anterior wings) it may possibly be an extreme variety of the male of
Pyranthe. Boisduval has indeed described another species of considerably
smaller size, which is destitute of the discoidal spot (Call. minna), which
also, he considers, may possibly be a variety of C. Pyranthe.
PLATE XIII.
[Illustration]
ARGYNNIS IDALIA.
Plate XIII. fig. 1.3. [female].--2. [male].
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. ARGYNNIS, _Fabr. Latr. et God._ Argyreus, _Scop._ Dryades, _Hubn._
Papilio (Nymphales Phalerati), _Linn. Drury_.
ARGYNNIS IDALIA. Alis dentatis, anticis utrinque fulvis nigro-maculatis;
posticis suprà nigro-coeruleis, punctorum serie duplici, subtùs fuscis
costâ baseos maculisque 26 argenteis. (Expans. Alar. [male]. 3 unc. 6
lin.--[female]. 4 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Idalia, _Drury_. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 252.
253. _Cramer, pl._ 44. _fig._ D. E. F. G. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. 145.
_No._ 446. _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. 263. (Argynnis Id.)
HABITAT: New York (_Drury_); taken on the 28th June. Jamaica (_Enc.
Méth._).
{25}_Upper Side._ Head and thorax of a deep brown orange. Anterior wings
of a dark orange, the anterior and external margins bordered with black;
near the latter are eight white spots on the wings of the female. Above
these, in the female, are five, and in the male six, round black spots;
those of the latter being smallest. Several black waves and streaks are
dispersed on other parts of the wings. Posterior wings of a fine dark
blue, almost black, and slightly dentated; the anterior ones being
entire. Near the external margin is a row of seven cream-coloured spots,
which in the male are red. Above these, is another row of the same number
of cream-coloured spots, situated near the middle of the wings. The base
of these wings is covered with brown orange-coloured hairs.
_Under Side._ Head, breast, and feet dark blue, nearly black. Anterior
wings dark orange, with some triangular silver spots placed along the
external edges, whose upper points are edged with black, and are
generally more distinct in the female than in the male. The several black
waves and streaks seen on the upper side, are here more faint, some being
scarcely visible. Posterior wings of a dark olive brown, with twenty-six
different shaped silver spots on each; one of which, in the centre of the
wing, is divided by a short black line.
PAMPHILA PHYLÆUS.
Plate XIII. fig. 4. 5.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Hesperiidæ, _Stephens_.
GENUS. PAMPHILA, _Fabr._ Hesperia (urbicolæ), _Fabr. Latr. et God._
Papilio (Pleb. urb.) _Drury, Linn._
PAMPHILA PHYLÆUS. Alis rufo-fulvis, anticis supra fasciâ obliquâ
interruptâ (mas.) maculâve arcuatâ (foemina) limboque postico fuscis,
posticis ibidem extùs fusco marginatis. (Expans. Alar. 1½ unc.).
SYN. Papilio (Hesp. urb.) Phylæus, _Drury, Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix.
_p._ 767. _No._ 112. (Hesperia Ph.)
Hesperia (urb.) Vitellius, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 327. _No._.
240
Pamphila Vitellius, _Steph. Illust. Brit. Ent. H._ 1. _p._ 103. _Haworth,
in Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol._ 1. _p._ 334. _Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georgia,
tab._ 17.
HABITAT: Antigua, St. Christopher's, Nevis, &c. (_Drury_). Antilles and
Brazil (_Enc. Méth._).
_Upper Side._ Thorax and abdomen of a yellowish olive. Superior wings of
a tawny yellow, having a dark brown (almost a black) indented margin,
running along the external margin, from the tips to the lower corners.
Near the middle of each wing are two dark-brown spots, one oblong, the
other of a longish square form, the former being the largest. Inferior
wings tawny yellow, and angulated, having a dark brown indented margin.
_Under Side._ Wings tawny yellow, but rather paler than on the upper
side. The anterior with several dark brown angular spots, placed along
the external edges, and in the middle of the wings, with a large one near
the shoulders. Posterior wings also spotted with many small dark brown
spots, some being scarcely visible.
A specimen of this species is stated to have been captured by the late Dr.
Abbot in Bedfordshire. It is most probable, however, now that the Pamphila
Bucephalus has been proved to be an indigenous species, that the specimen
the capture of which is recorded by Mr. Haworth, belonged to that species.
The caterpillar of this skipper-butterfly feeds upon a species of panic
grass (Panicum Crus-Galli) and on the buffalo grass.
{26}PLATE XIV.
[Illustration]
NYMPHALIS BOLINA.
Plate XIV. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ.
GENUS. NYMPHALIS. _Latr. God._ Papilio (Nymphal. Phal.), _Linn. Drury_.
NYMPHALIS BOLINA. Alis dentatis, supra nigris, anticis maculis duabus,
posticis solitariâ magnâ, coeruleo-albis, subtus corticinis fascià albâ.
(Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Ph.) Bolina, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 781. _No._
188. _Cramer, pl._ 65. _fig._ E. F. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 244. _fig._ 3. 4.
_Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 126. _No._ 384. _Latr. et God. (Enc.
Méth.)_ ix. 396. _No._ 157. (Nymphalis Bol.)
HABITAT: Bombay, Surinam, all the West Indian Islands, New York,
Carolina, Brazil, Cape of Good Hope, Malabar, Coromandel, China, Ceylon
(_Drury_). "In Indiæ orientalis Portulaca" (_Fabr._). Cayenne (_Enc.
Méth._).
_Upper Side._ Three white spots, one before, and two behind, on the head,
which, with the thorax and abdomen, is of a blackish brown. Wings
dentated, and of a dark chocolate colour, almost black; but when held
against the light, in a certain direction, display a blueish purple.
Anterior wings, in the middle, having a large oval, and another smaller
oblong white spot at the tips. Posterior wings with a large white spot,
larger than that in the superior ones. On the edges of all these spots,
the purple colour before-mentioned, is very conspicuous.
_Under Side._ Palpi white. The sides of the thorax spotted with white.
Anterior wings, next the body, of a reddish chocolate; but near the tips,
of a dirty olive. The large and small white spots appear here as on the
upper side; with three small angular white spots, close to the anterior
margin, near the middle. Along the external edge, is a row of white
crescents on a black border; over which are six small, round, faint,
white spots. Posterior wings, next the body, of a dirty olive; but toward
their external edges, more of a chocolate, with a broad central white bar
running entirely across the wing, with a small angular black mark, near
the anterior margin. Along the external edges, is a row of white
crescents; above which is a row of small white triangular spots, placed
two and two, between the crescents. Above this, six small round white
spots are placed in a row.
The flight of this species is said by Drury to be exceedingly quick and
rapid, so that it is very difficult to catch them, and hence they are
seldom obtained in fine condition, being generally secured in a faded state
when they are taken with more ease. The purple tint upon the upper side of
the wings is most intense, and when the insect flies in the sun, glancing
before the eye of the observer at a little distance (for it is by no means
a timid creature), the vivid purple, observes Drury, is not much less than
the electrical spark, and its changes depending on the degree of obliquity
which it presents to the sun, are scarcely less rapid.
{27}NYMPHALIS IPHICLA.
Plate XIV. fig. 3, 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. NYMPHALIS, _Latr. God._ Papilio (Nymph. Phal.), _Linn. Fabr. God._
NYMPHALIS IPHICLA. Alis denticulatis, supra fuscis, fasciá communi albâ
antrorsùm rotundatâ, retrorsùm acuminatâ; anticis suprà maculâ apicis, et
auguli analis, ferrugineis. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Iphicla, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 380.
Papilio (N. P.) Iphicla, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1.
_p._ 135. 417. _Cramer, pl._ 188. _fig._ E. F. (var.?)
Papilio Basilea, _Cram. pl._ 188. _fig._ D. ([male]).
Papilio Cytherea, _Cram. pl._ 376. C. D. ([female]).
P. Cythereus, _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 284. _f._ 1. 2.
P. Iphicla, _Herbst. Pap._ 148. _fig._ 3. 4.
Nymphalis Iphicla, _Enc. Méth._ ix. 374.
HABITAT: Surinam (_Drury_). Guiana and Brazil (_Enc. Méth._).
_Upper Side._ Thorax and abdomen nearly black. Anterior wings of a light
liver colour, having some faint lines a little waved, of a darker colour,
running along the external edges. Each has an orange spot, situated at a
small distance from the tip, and joining to the anterior margin.
Posterior wings dentated, and angular at the anal angle, of the same
colour as the anterior; with the same faint waved subapical lines. In the
middle of the anterior wings arises a bar of a very pale brimstone
colour, near a quarter of an inch broad, and which extends to the anal
angle of the posterior wings, below which is an orange spot.
_Under Side._ All the wings, next the body, are marked and clouded with
lines and marks of ash colour and olive brown. The pale brimstone bar is
seen very distinctly on this side; and the two orange spots on the upper
side of the anterior wings, here assume a tinge of flesh colour,
separated in the middle by the tendon, which is of an orange cast. The
faint waved lines also are very conspicuous, of a very dark flesh colour,
shaded with brown.
PLATE XV.
[Illustration]
VANESSA CHARONIA.
Plate XV. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains._
GENUS. Vanessa, _Fabr. Latr. God. Curtis._ Hamadryades, _Hubn._ Papilio
(Nymphalis Phal.), _Fabr. Drury._
VANESSA CHARONIA. Alis dentatis, supra nigris, fasciâ communi
submarginali coeruleâ, in posticis serie punctorum nigrorum divisâ;
anticis apice productis, posticis subcaudatis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Charonia, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Cramer, Pap.
tab._ 4. _pl._ 47. _fig._ A. B. C. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 119.
_No._ 304. _Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 308. 27 (Vanessa Ch.).
HABITAT:: China (_Drury_). India (_Fabr._).
_Upper Side._ The thorax and abdomen black, and furnished with grayish
hair. The ground of all the wings is black; but towards the body inclines
to copper. On the anterior wings, near the tips, is a white spot placed
close to the anterior edge. This edge is narrowly bordered with blue, and
dappled with little wave-like stripes of black; from whose middle an
oblique blue spot, almost half an inch long, extends down the wings. A
little below this, arises a light blue bar of lunules, which runs even
with the external edge, and is continued transversely across the
posterior wing, excluding the anal angle. On this blue bar, in the
posterior wings, are placed six small black angular spots. Beneath these
is a {28}narrow double border of blue, running along their external
margin. All the wings are deeply dentated and angulated.
_Under Side._ The ground of the wings is of a dark orange, with various
broad transverse purplish shades, and with a variety of irregular small
wave-like markings, and different tints of brown, intermingled with
orange shades.
The under side of the male is of a very dark brown, almost black, with
some faint wavings, which are not so strong and beautiful as in the
female.
ARGYNNIS ERYMANTHIS.
Plate XV. fig. 3. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ.
GENUS. ARGYNNIS, _Fab. Latr. God._ Argyreus, _Scop._ Papilio (Danai
Festiv.), _Drury._
ARGYNNIS ERYMANTHIS. Alis subrotundatis, subdentatis, fulvis, anticis
fasciâ flavescenti transversâ mediâ nigro maculatâ, apice nigris;
posticis serie punctorum, duabusque lunularum nigrorum. (Expans. Alar,
fere 3 unc. [_Drury_], 2 unc. [_Enc. Méth._]).
SYN. Papilio (Dan. Fest.) Erymanthis, _Drury_, _App. v._ 2. _Cramer_,
_pl._ 238. _fig._ 9. _Fab. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 139. 427. _Enc.
Méth._ ix. 257.
Papilio Lampetia, _Cram. Pap. pl._ 148 _fig._ E.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). Coromandel, Java (_Enc. Méth._).
_Upper Side._ Head, thorax, and abdomen dark brown. Anterior wings, next
the body, of a dark tawny orange, which colour occupies about half the
wings, and is bounded by a very irregular line. A broad black patch
occupies the tips of the wings, beginning about the middle of the
anterior edge, and extends along the external one to the interior angle;
on which, near the tips, are two clay-coloured round spots; and below
them, in some specimens, are two more spots near the external edge. The
space between the black patch and the tawny orange is of a clay colour,
with three round black spots on it, the lower one the largest. Posterior
wings tawny orange, the posterior edges being of a dirty brown; and above
them are seen two rows of black crescents irregularly placed, over these
are five round black spots. The wings are slightly dentated, the inferior
ones most.
_Under Side._ All the wings clay colour. A dark, faint, engrailed line,
composed of a number of crescents, joined together, runs transversely
across the superior and inferior wings, extending to the anal angle.
HIPPARCHIA LEDA.
Plate XV. fig. 5. 6.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains._
GENUS. HIPPARCHIA, _Fabr. Stephens_. Satyrus, _Latr. et God._ Argus p.
_Scop._ Orcades, _Hubn._ Papilio (Nymphales Gemmati), _Drury_.
HIPPARCHIA LEDA. Alis angulatis supra corticino-fuscis; anticis ocello
apicis sesquialtero in plagâ magnâ luteâ, posticis ocellis duobus;
omnibus subtus griseo-reticulatis strigâ ocellorum. (Expans. Alar. 3
unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Leda, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 773. _No._ 151.
_Drury_, _App. v._ 2. _Fabricius, Ent. Syst._ 3. 1. _p._ 108. 333.
_Cramer, Pap. pl._ 196. C. D. _and pl._ 292. _fig._ A. _Encycl. Méth._
ix. 478. _No._ 4. (Satyrus L.)
Papilio Solandra (var.?) _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III.1. 106. 328. _Donovan
Ins. New Holl. pl._ 23. _f._ 1.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). Ind. orient. (_Weber MSS._). Sierra Leone
(_Fabr._ ??). Mauritius (_Encycl. Méth._). Otaheite and New Holland
(_Fabr. and Donovan_, P. Solandra).
{29}_Upper Side._ Antennæ, thorax, and abdomen of a dark brown colour.
All the wings dark olive brown. On the anterior wings, near the tips, are
two black circular spots united together: the lower one being the
largest, each having a small white one in its centre. On the posterior
wings are two black circular eyes, towards the anal angle; their irides
being of a gold colour, and the pupils white. The superior wings are a
little dentated, the inferior ones being angulated.
_Under Side._ All the wings, on this side, are of a very pale brown,
marked all over with short, crooked, wave-like stripes, of a dark brown
colour, almost black. On the anterior wings are four eyes, the largest,
situated near the middle of the wing, is encircled with yellow, its
centre being white; below this is a small one, and two other small ones
are placed near the tips. Posterior wings, with a row of six black eyes
near the external edge, whereof two are much larger than the rest; the
irides of all being yellow, and the pupils white. That next the anal
angle is sesquialterate. In some specimens these eyes are less distinct
than in others; in some there are not more than five to be discerned, and
only one on each superior wing; in others not more than three can be
distinguished, the small ones being entirely wanting.
Drury observes (Introd. to vol. iii. p. 16.) that this insect very much
resembles a species sent by Mr. Smeathman from Africa, which comes out only
about sunset, and is then to be found in dark shades, wavering about
amongst the early flying noctuæ, and other nocturnal species. In some
manuscripts of the late Professor Weber of Kiel, in my possession, the East
Indies are given as the habitat of this species.
PLATE XVI.
[Illustration]
CASTNIA LICUS.
Plate XVI. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Hesperi Sphinges (_Latr._). FAMILY:
Castniidæ. _Westw._
GENUS. CASTNIA, _Fabricius, Latr. God. Dalman_. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.),
_Drury_.
CASTNIA LICUS. Alis integris, supra atris nitidis; anticis sesquifasciâ
albâ, posticis serie marginali punctorum rubrorum fasciâque obliquâ albâ.
(Expans. Alar. fere 4 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Dan. Festiv.) Licus, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Cramer, pl._ 223.
_fig._ A. B. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 45. _No._ 137. (Licas.)
Papilio Lycus, _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 134. _f._ 1. 2. _Merian Surinam, tab._
36.
Castnia Licus, _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 797.
HABITAT: Surinam.
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are dark brown, at the tips paler; and
terminating in a point. The head, thorax, and base of the abdomen dark
chocolate brown; the extremity and sides of the latter dark. Anterior
wings of a fine deep chocolate brown. A narrow, irregular, and oblique
cream-coloured bar runs across the wing; between this and the tip, from
the anterior edge, runs another crooked irregular bar, of a much darker
colour, reaching almost half across the wing towards the interior angle,
the external margin being of a lighter shade. Posterior wings, having a
white bar running transversely across the wing, widening by degrees, and
ending at the anal angle. Six square orange spots also of different
sizes, are placed within the external margin of these wings.
_Under Side._ Anterior wings, in the middle, dark chocolate; the tips
dark fawn colour, lighter next the shoulders. The two irregular bars, on
the upper side, are here a little broader. Within the external edge are
three rather pearly white spots. Posterior wings greyish fawn colour,
with the {30}external edges darker. A pale pearl-coloured bar runs across
the wing beyond the middle, widening gradually; below this are some very
faint brown spots, and near the external edge some faint orange ones,
scarcely visible. The edges of all the wings are entire.
The genus Castnia is another of those curious anomalous forms, which
exhibit the characters of several groups. The general form of the wings is
that of a moth, whilst the variegated colours, indicating diurnal flight,
and the structure of the antennæ are those of a butterfly. It is much to be
regretted, that travellers in South America have not ascertained the
preparatory states of this extraordinary group, which alone will enable us
satisfactorily to ascertain its real relations.
GASTROPACHA? OTUS.
Plate XVI. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Bombycidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. GASTROPACHA? _Ochsenh._ Sphinx, _Drury_.
GASTROPACHA? OTUS. Alis elongatis integris luteo-fuscis, anticis fasciis
duabus denticulatis nigris. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. Sphinx Otus. _Drury, Append. v._ 2.
Bombyx Agrius, _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 5. 39. 56.
HABITAT: Smyrna (_Drury_).
_Upper Side._ The antennæ and head are of a reddish brown; the former are
strongly pectinated, and very broad in the middle, but at the extremities
very narrow and curled. Thorax dark brown. Abdomen reaching half an inch
below the wings of a reddish dun colour. Anterior wings dun colour; with
a large spot or patch, of a darker colour, situated on the posterior
margin, near the base. Two indented black lines run obliquely from the
anterior edge, near the tip, to the posterior near the middle; the space
between them being rather lighter than the rest. Posterior wings dun
colour, immaculate. All the wings, both on the under and upper sides,
appear very shining and glossy; the scales or feathers appearing, when
viewed through a microscope, very coarse and long. There is no tongue
discoverable in this moth.
_Under Side._ Breast and sides bright dun. The abdomen reddish dun. All
the wings dun-coloured. The lower indented line appears faintly through
the wing, of a dark brown colour, also a faint reddish brown indented
line runs across the posterior wings. The edges of all the wings are
entire.
This insect, which appears to have been overlooked by modern authors, seems
to form a connecting link between Zeuzera and Gastropacha, agreeing with
the former in the general form, and with the latter in the transverse
denticulated fasciæ on the anterior wings, and the curved antennæ feathered
to the tips.
{31}PLATE XVII.
[Illustration]
PAPILIO POLYDAMAS.
Plate XVII. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PAPILIO (Equit. Troj.) _Linn._
PAP. POLYDAMAS. Alis dentatis, nigro-virescentibus, fasciâ communi
interruptâ flavâ, posticis subtus maculis linearibus flexuosis rubris,
tribus argenteis adjectis. (Expans. Alar. unc. 4.)
SYN. Pap. Polydamas. _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 747. _No._ 12. _Merian.
Surinam. pl._ 31. _Cramer Pap._ 18. _p._ 33. _pl._ 211. _f._ D. E.
_Herbst. Pap. t._ 10. _f._ 6. 7. _Boisd. et Leconte Icon. des Chen. de
l'Amer. Sept. pl._ 1. _Boisd. Hist. Nat. Lep._ 1. 321. _No._ 162.
HABITAT: America, from Georgia to Brazil, Antigua (_Drury_).
_Upper Side._ The head and thorax are black; with two red spots on the
neck, and two small white spots at the base of the antennæ. All the wings
are scolloped, and of a dark green colour. The anterior wings have a row
of yellow spots rising near the tips, which, running across the middle of
the inferior ones, in a circular manner, meet at the extremity of the
body; some of them being shaped like the bearded points of arrows. The
hollow or concave part of each scollop, in the inferior wings, is edged
with yellow.
_Under Side._ The head, breast, feet, and abdomen are black; with several
red spots on the sides, abdomen, and shoulders. All the wings are black;
the anterior having some of the yellow spots that are seen on the upper
side; with seven irregular red spots, placed along the edge of each
posterior wing, and three silver spots or marks joining to the second,
third, and fourth.
Linnæus states, that this insect inhabits the Hibiscus mutabilis. By other
authors it is stated to feed upon the Aristolochia Serpentaria, or
Virginian snake-root. The caterpillar is brown, with fleshy spines of the
same colour, and red stripes, each segment also being ornamented with four
eye-like spots, half yellow and half red.
NYMPHALIS ASSIMILIS.
Plate XVII. fig. 3. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains._
GENUS. NYMPHALIS, _Latr. et God._ Papilio (Nymphalis Phal.), _Linn._
_Drury_.
NYMPHALIS ASSIMILIS. Alis subrepandis nigris concoloribus, lineis
maculisque albo-virescentibus, posticis strigâ apicali punctorum
coccineorum. (Expans. Alar. fere 5 unc. [_Drury_] 3½ unc. [_Enc.
Méth._]).
SYN. Papilio (Nymphal. Phal.) assimilis, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 782.
_No._ 194. _Cramer, pl._ 154. A. _Esper. Pap. Exot. t._ 57. _f._ 1.
_Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 39. _No._ 114. (Papilio Eq. Ach.)
HABITAT: China.
_Upper Side._ Head black, with two white frontal spots. Thorax black,
with three white stripes. Abdomen black, marked on the sides with white.
Anterior wings sooty black, having a number of large spots and stripes on
them of different forms and dimensions, of a greenish-grey colour. Near
the external edge is a double row of sixteen small spots of the same
greenish grey, and above them are five larger of a more circular shape.
Posterior wings resemble the superior, but have a broad border of clearer
black running along the external edge, whereon are five spots of a
scarlet colour, inclining to pink, one having a small black spot in the
middle. The wings are slightly dentated.
{32}_Under Side._ Body black, and ornamented with round spots of clear
white. At the base of the wings, is a remarkable round spot of a clear
white, about the size of a pin's head. The wings are spotted as on the
upper side, the greenish spots being rather larger, and in the inferior
wings inclining to a yellow, the general ground of all the wings
appearing more sooty on this side.
PLATE XVIII.
[Illustration]
LIMACODES? ARENACEA.
Plate XVIII. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Bombycidæ.
GENUS. LIMACODES? _Latr._ Apoda, _Haworth_. Heterogenea, _Knoch._ Phalæna
Bombyx, _Linn._
LIMACODES? ARENACEA. Lutea, alis superioribus supra atomis nigris
adspersis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Bombyx) arenacea, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 828. _No._ 65.
HABITAT: Cape of Good Hope.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ pectinated, and of a yellow clay colour. The head
and thorax yellow, but covered over with hairs in such manner that the
former cannot be distinguished. The abdomen, superior and inferior wings
yellow. On the anterior wings appear some very minute black spots
scattered thereon in a very irregular manner. The wings are entire.
_Under Side._ The thighs, breast, and abdomen are very hairy. The
superior and inferior wings of the same yellow colour as on the upper
side, without a mark of any kind.
This insect appears most nearly to approach the genus Limacodes, _Latr._
SATURNIA CECROPIA.
Plate XVIII. fig. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Bombycidæ.
GENUS. SATURNIA, _Schrank. Latr._ Attacus, _Germar._ Phalæna (Bombyx),
_Linn. &c._
SATURNIA CECROPIA. Alis anticis subfalcatis, posticis rotundatis; omnibus
griseis fasciâ communi fulvâ maculâque reniformi ocelloque apicali (in
anticis) ornatis. (Expans. Alar. 6 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. _Linn. Syst. Nat. v._ 2. _p._ 809. _No._ 3. _Cramer, Ins._ 4. _tab._
42. _f._ A. B. _Catesby Carol._ 86. _t._ 86. _Abbot and Smith, Ins.
Georgia, tab._ 45. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 408. _No._ 4. _Gmel.
Linn. S. N._ 2401. 3. _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 5. _p._ 25. 5.
HABITAT: New York (_Drury_). North America (_Linn. &c._).
_Upper Side._ Antennæ very broad, pectinated and black. The head is small
and red. Neck white. Thorax covered with long orange-brown hairs. Abdomen
alternately with broad stripes of white and orange brown, the latter
being edged behind with black. Anterior wings, with two bars crossing
from the anterior to the posterior edges, one at about three-fourths of
an inch from the shoulders, whitish, edged on the outside with black; the
other is orange, at about an inch distance from the external margin. The
base of the wing is a fine orange brown. The middle is deep rusty brown,
which, towards the upper part, is powdered with buff-coloured hairs. In
the middle of this is a large white spot verged with black, somewhat
resembling a kidney bean, and is broadly tinged behind with red brown.
The extremity of this wing, next the bar, is the same dark brown, and
powdered, having a black spot about {33}half an inch from the tip, having
within it a semicircular mark of a pearl colour. From this spot to the
anterior edge runs a serpentine line of white, bordered on the outer side
with red. Between this and the orange bar is a broad tinge of light
purple. The other side, next the tip, is light brown, stained with blood
colour. From the black spot to the interior angle runs a black serpentine
line, inclosing a space of dark buff, between which and the dark buff
margin is a light buff irregular streak. Posterior wings similar to the
superior, but the orange bar is redder and broader, running parallel with
the external edge, and is bordered on the inner side with white; the part
of the wing within this is deep rusty brown, with a larger white spot in
the middle, verged with black, and tinged behind with red brown. The
colour below the red bar is deep rusty brown, the border along the
external edge being of a dark dirty buff, whereon are two small dark
lines, having an irregular indented line of the same dirty buff above
them. The wings are entire.
_Under Side._ The markings on all the wings are more distinct, and
brighter than on the upper. The posterior wings, and the major part of
the anterior, being covered with dust-like buff hairs, except the spots
and buff margins round the edges. The posterior wings along the anterior
edges being verged with white, which becomes broader as it approaches the
shoulders.
The caterpillar of this fine moth feeds upon the wild American plum (Prunus
Pensylvanica), garden plum, &c. It is thick and fleshy, of a pale green
colour, with a pair of small blue spots on each segment, and with two rows
of short and setose yellow dorsal tubercles. One observed by Abbot, spun up
on the 17th of June, and the moth came out on the 30th of March following.
The cocoon is attached to a twig. The outside web is coarse, and the inner
covered with silk, like a silk-worm's cocoon. Abbot states that this silk
has been carded, spun, and made into stockings, and that it will wash like
linen. The species is, however, too rare to be of any utility in Georgia.
It is, however, much more abundant in the neighbourhood of New York, and
has been bred in England from some brought over in the chrysalis state. It
is difficult to rear it in confinement.
SPILOSOMA ARGE.
Plate XVIII. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Arctiidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. SPILOSOMA, _Steph._ Arctia, _Latr._ Eyprepia, p. _Ochs._ Phalæna
(Noctua), _Drury_.
SPILOSOMA ARGE. Alis albidis, nigro-maculatis et lineatis, posticis
incarnatis lineâ marginali fulvâ; abdomine concolori maculis nigris.
(Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) Arge, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 5. 92.
232.
Bombyx Dione, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 442. _No._ 106. _Abbot and
Smith, Ins. Georg. t._ 63.
HABITAT: New York; taken on the 20th day of May.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ filiform, and cream-coloured at the base, but black
at their extremities. The tongue is small, and curled up. The neck red,
having two small black streaks above it. The thorax and abdomen
cream-coloured. On the former are three black streaks. On each annulus of
the abdomen is a black spot, and another on each side. Anterior wings
cream-coloured, with many black spots and marks thereon, of different
forms and sizes, and varying very greatly in different specimens. The
{34}anterior margin red. Posterior wings almost transparent, dirty
cream-coloured, tinged with red, whereon are many oblong sooty spots.
Ciliæ cream-coloured, within which is a narrow red line.
_Under Side._ The colours are more faint and dirty than those on the
upper. Anterior femora red, with two black spots thereon, close to the
head. Tarsi black and cream-coloured.
The caterpillar of this insect is brown, with five pale longitudinal lines,
and with long hairs arising from fulvous tubercles. It feeds, according to
Abbot, upon plantain, corn, peas, and many other plants. A specimen
observed by this author was hatched on the 23d of July, spun up on the 28th
of August, and the moth appeared on the 9th of September. It is said
occasionally to make great devastation among Indian corn. Sir J. E. Smith
ascertained the specific identity of this insect from Dr. Hunter's Museum,
examined by Fabricius, who has neglected to cite Drury's figure.
SPILOSOMA CUNEA.
Plate XVIII. fig. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Arctiidæ.
GENUS. SPILOSOMA, _Steph._ Arctia, _Latr._ Eyprepia, _Ochs._ Phalæna
(Noctua),_Drury_.
SPILOSOMA CUNEA. Alis albis, anticis maculis permultis, posticis duabus
nigris, abdomine concolori nigro-maculato. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 5 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Bombyx) Cunea, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
Phalæna punctatissima, _Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georg. t._ 70?
HABITAT: New York (_Drury_). Georgia and Virginia (_Abbot and Smith_).
_Upper Side._ Antennæ pectinated and black. There is no appearance of any
tongue. Head white. Back and abdomen ash colour. Anterior wings white,
with a great number of spots differently shaped of a sooty black colour.
On the external margin are five spots, those nearest the tips being
shaped like triangles. Posterior wings white, with a sooty spot on each
near the external edge, and a very faint small mark near the exterior
angle.
_Under Side._ Legs black. Breast and abdomen ash colour. The wings marked
as on the upper side.
There seems little reason for doubting that this is identical with the
Phalæna punctatissima of Abbot and Smith, of which the female is entirely
white. The last named species feeds upon the mulberry, persimmon, willow,
and wild cherry of America. One observed by Abbot spun up on the 16th of
May, and came out on the 1st of June. The whole brood of caterpillars feed
together in a web, and will often entirely destroy the leaves of a small
tree. The name proposed by Drury evidently alludes to the triangular spots
on the margin of the anterior wings, and seems quite as expressive as that
employed by Sir J. E. Smith, who seems to have treated Drury's work on
several occasions as scarcely deserving of notice.
{35}NOCTUA (ACONTIA?) NUNDINA.
Plate XVIII. fig. 5.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Noctuidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. NOCTUA, _Auct._ (SUBGENUS, Acontia? _Ochsenh. Treit._) Phalæna
(Noctua), _Drury_.
NOCTUA (ACONTIA?) NUNDINA. Alis anticis pallide cinereis albido
variegatis, literâ nigrâ ante apicem notatis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 3
lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) Nundina, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
HABITAT: New York.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ thread-like, of a reddish brown. The tongue curled
spirally. Head and thorax ash colour. Anterior wings the same, whereon
are several faint marks of a light sand colour. Close to the anterior
margin, about a third from the tips, is a black mark, resembling an I of
the German text characters. Posterior wings silvery white, with a small,
faint, light, sandy border, and a small oblong brown discoidal spot.
_Under Side._ Anterior wings silvery white, with a faint indistinct dark
brown border running along the external margin, and two dark marks
opposite the German text character. Posterior wings silvery white; the
oblong brown spots are here plainly seen as on the upper side.
PLATE XIX.
[Illustration]
PAPILIO PALAMEDES.
Plate XIX. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Papilionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PAPILIO, _Auct._
PAPILIO PALAMEDES. Alis dentatis nigris, fasciâ maculari maculisque
marginalibus flavis; posticis caudatis, his subtùs ad basin vittâ albâ
transversâ rectâ lunulisque rufis. (Expans. Alar. 5 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Eq. Achiv.) Palamedes, _Drury, App. v._ 2. (1773). _Cramer,
pl._ 93. _fig._ A. B.
Pap. (Eq. Ach.) Calchas, _Fabr. Syst. Ent. p._ 453. _No._ 44. (1775).
_Ent. Syst._ 3. 1. _p._ 30. _No._ 90. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 42. _Boisduval,
Hist. Nat. Lep._ 1. 337. _No._ 178. _Bdv. et Leconte, Icon. Lep. Amer.
Sept. pl._ 5.
HABITAT: Carolina (_Drury_). Georgia, Virginia (_Bdv._).
_Upper Side._ Head, back, and abdomen dark brown; the latter striped on
the sides with yellow. Two yellow lines, beginning at the palpi, encircle
the eyes, and, running along the shoulders, end at the base of the
inferior wings. Anterior wings brownish black; the external margin with
small yellow crescents, above which are nine yellow round spots. Above
this is another irregular row of yellow angular spots. Posterior wings
brownish black, each with a tail. Above it are six yellow spots, reaching
from the anal to the upper corner, with five small blue spots above them,
above which a yellow irregular bar runs across the middle of the wing,
having a black spot, whose upper edge is verged with blue, placed at the
anal angle, with a small tinge of orange above and below it.
_Under Side._ Breast and thighs yellow. Abdomen striped with yellow and
dark brown. Anterior wings brownish black, with the same yellow spots and
marks as on the upper side. Posterior wings brownish black, with six
yellow spots near the external edge, having a mark of orange in the
middle of each, above which is a row of orange crescents joined together,
whose upper edges are silver, and below each of them is a black circular
spot, whose inner part is a fine shining blue, from whence appears a
great number of powder-like gray spots. The anterior edge next the
shoulders, has a small orange streak, near which an orange-coloured line
begins, running parallel with the abdomen.
{36}The caterpillar is described by Boisduval as living upon several
species of Laurus, and of a green colour, with pale blue spots, and scarlet
belly and legs, with a scarlet eye-shaped spot on each side of the third
segment. The chrysalis is gibbous, ferruginous on the back, with the belly
rose-coloured, and four rows of pale blue dots. I have reverted to Drury's
specific name, which has certainly the priority, as appears from the dates
which I have introduced amongst the synonyms. Dr. Boisduval has given
another species of this genus under the name of Palamedes, described by
Fabricius under that name, but considered by him to be a Nymphalis. This
latter species must consequently receive a new denomination.
MELITÆA PELOPS.
Plate XIX. fig. 3. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains._
GENUS. MELITÆA, _Fabr._ Argynnis, _Latr. God._ Papilio (Pleb. rur.),
_Drury_.
MELITÆA PELOPS. Alis subrotundatis, integerrimis, suprà fulvis nigro
reticulatis; posticis subtùs carneis fusco undatis. (Expans. Alar. 1
unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Pleb. rur.) Pelops, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
Argynnis Pelopsa, _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 290. _No._ 62.
HABITAT: St. Christopher's (_Drury_).
_Upper Side._ Thorax and abdomen brown, the latter spotted with faint
brown orange. Wings black, with several rows of large brown orange spots,
crossing the wings, of different shapes and sizes.
_Under Side._ Anterior wings orange brown, spotted with black, having the
appearance of indented lines running across them. Posterior wings dark
flesh-coloured, marked and spotted with brown, and having five minute
silver spots at equal distances, parallel with the external edge. The
wings are entire.
HESPERIA ARCAS.
Plate XIX. fig. 5. 6.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Hesperiidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. HESPERIA, _Latr. Godart_. Battus, p. _Scop._ Papilio (Pl. ruric),
_Linn._
HESPERIA ARCAS. Alis nigricantibus immaculatis, margine integro, anticis
subtùs margine interno dilutiore maculâ parvâ unicâ albâ. (Expans. Alar.
1 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Pleb. ruric.) Arcas, _Drury. App. v._ 2.
Papilio (Pl. urb.) Philemon, _Fabr. Syst. Ent. p._ 534. _No._ 392. _Ent.
Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 346. _No._ 314.
Hesperia Ph. _Latr. God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 788.
Papilio Flyas, _Cram. pl._ 328. E.
HABITAT: St. Christopher's.
_Upper Side._ Thorax and abdomen black. Wings very dark brownish black,
immaculate. Margins entire.
_Under Side._ Legs, breast, and abdomen dark brown, but rather lighter
than on the upper side, immaculate, except a small white spot on the
anterior, placed near the anterior edge towards the tip.
{37}PLATE XX.
[Illustration]
EREBUS CREPUSCULARIS?
Plate XX. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna, FAMILY: Noctuidæ, _Steph._
GENUS. EREBUS, _Latrielle_. Thysania, _Dalman._ Noctua, _Fabr._ Phalæna
(Attacus), _Linn._
EREBUS CREPUSCULARIS? Alis griseis, fasciâ maculisque albis, anticis
ocello fusco, posticis fasciis duabus dentatis fuscis fulvo marginatis.
(Expans. Alar. 4 unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Attacus) Crepuscularis? _Linn. S. N._ 2. 811. _No._ 13.
_Drury, App. v._ 2. _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 8. 255. 19.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). America (_Linn._).
_Upper Side._ Antennæ setaceous. Palpi standing erect above the head.
Tongue spiral. Neck with a narrow ring of white. Thorax dark brown.
Abdomen dirty buff colour. Anterior wings dark nut brown at the base;
paler at the external margin. On the anterior margin, next the tip, is a
white subtriangular spot; and from the middle arises a white bar, which
runs obliquely to the middle of the wing, but suddenly turns and runs to
the base of the posterior margin; from the inner angle of this bar, near
the middle of the wing, a black line runs towards the front of the wing,
forming a large eye. Within the external margin are many dark and white
marks. All the wings are scolloped. Posterior wings, next the shoulders,
are of a dirty buff colour; remainder nut brown, separated by a narrow
line of darker brown, beneath which runs a small narrow line of buff, and
a quarter of an inch below this is another line, crossing the wing. From
thence, to the external edge, are several darker coloured clouds, and
white marks of different shapes and forms; particularly a white angular
spot on the anterior edge, near the corner.
_Under Side._ All the wings of a pale clay colour, inclining to buff. On
the anterior, the two white spots at the tips, visible on the upper side,
appear here also; and several smaller ones on other parts of the wings.
The white bar being less distinct than the other white marks; but on the
posterior wings the white angular spot, near the upper corner, is very
plain and strong.
The diversity of the habitats, given by Drury and Linnæus, render it
doubtful whether that figured by the former be identical with that
described by the latter.
NOCTUA LUNATA.
Plate XX. fig. 3.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Noctuidæ.
GENUS. NOCTUA, _Auct._ SUBGENUS.--?
NOCTUA LUNATA. Alis fuscis, strigis multis transversis; anticis maculâ
centrali, alterâ angulatâ apicali, fasciâque obliquâ posticâ nigris.
(Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) Lunata, _Drury, App. v._ 3.
HABITAT: Carolina, Virginia.
_Upper Side._ The antennæ light brown and setaceous. The tongue spiral.
Palpi not very hairy. The head, thorax, abdomen, and wings
hazel-coloured. Anterior wings with a waved line, of a dark brown colour,
placed near the anterior angle, beginning at the posterior and ending at
the external edge. At the shoulders, and along the anterior margin, are
several small dark brown clouds and marks, that {38}produce a darker
shade. Posterior wings with a series of narrow transverse waved lines,
extending from the middle to the external edges. All the wings are
dentated.
_Under Side._ The breast, abdomen, and wings are all of a paler hazel
colour. Anterior wings dappled with dark brown on the middle of the
anterior edge, and spotted with minute short brown streaks, as well as
the posterior.
GEOMETRA (ANGERONA) SERRATA.
Plate XX. fig. 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Geometridæ, _Steph._
GENUS. GEOMETRA. Subg. Angerona, _Duponch, Steph._ Hipparchus p. _Leach.
Curt._
GEOM. (ANGERONA) SERRATA. Alis luteo-fulvis dentatis, fasciâ latâ apicali
maculâ basali anticarum fasciâque basali posticarum ferrugineis. (Expans.
Alar. 2 unc. 3 lin)
SYN. Phal. (Noctua) Serrata, _Drury_, _App. v._ 2.
HABITAT: New York; taken on the 26th of June.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ and head of a reddish buff colour, the former
setaceous. Tongue very small and spiral. Thorax and abdomen yellow buff
colour; as are all the wings in general. The anterior having a bar of
brown red colour, which begins at the tips, and runs across the wings,
almost to the middle of the posterior edge; occupying all that space
along the external margin. At the base is a small cloud of the same
colour, but much fainter. Posterior wings with a broad marginal bar of
the same brown red. A small faint line likewise crosses these wings. The
buff ground is sprinkled all over with faint, irregular, dark brown
spots, that in some specimens are scarcely visible. All the wings are
dentated; the lower ones most deeply.
_Under Side._ Wings yellow buff, with brown red markings, as on the upper
side, but less distinct. The irroration stronger and plainer, being also
sprinkled over the brown bars.
PLATE XXI.
[Illustration]
ARGYNNIS PHALANTA.
Plate XXI. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. ARGYNNIS, _Fabr. Latr. et Godart_. Argyreus, _Scop._ Dryades,
_Hubn_.
ARGYNNIS PHALANTA. Alis subdentatis, fulvis nigro maculatis, posticis
subtus ad extimum argenteo-purpurascentibus, ocellis aliquot fulvis.
(Expans. Alar. 3 unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Phalanta, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Fabr. Ent.
Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 149. _Latr. et God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 259. Papilio
Culumbina, _Cram. pl._ 337. D. E. ([male]) _pl._ 238. A. B. ([female]).
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). East Indies (_Fabricius, &c._). Isle Mauritius
(_I. O. W._).
_Upper Side._ Thorax and abdomen of a dirty clay colour. Anterior wings
of a fine deep clay colour, the tips being of a dirty black; which colour
is continued, by irregular and indented marks, along the external edges,
almost to the interior angle, where are several clay-coloured spots and
marks. Above these are four round spots, running obliquely toward the
shoulders. Several other black marks are dispersed on different parts of
the wings, particularly near the anterior edges. Posterior wings deep
clay-coloured, with two black waved or indented lines, running along the
external mar
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