Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/113

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PAPILIO PARIS.
103

distinct, it may ultimately prove to be a mere local variety. Godart confounds three species, conceiving that P. Bianor was the female of P. Paris, and P. Arjuna a variety.[1] The extension of the wings in P. Paris is about four inches; the surface dark-brown, powdered with particles of golden-green, which are condensed into two or three spots near the extremity of the inner border of the upper wings: the under wings have, towards the middle, a large patch of very brilliant azure-blue, sinuated posteriorly, where it is on a line with a series of spots formed by the union or condensation of the minute golden atoms; the anal angle with an ocellated spot having a red iris surmounted by a very narrow violet arc: tail black: under side brown, sprinkled with grey particles, which are so condensed towards the apex of the upper wings as to form a broad transverse band, interrupted by dark nervures: under wings with a posterior row of seven ocelliform spots, dark in the centre and having a yellowish-red iris, divided anteriorly by a slender violet arc: body black, powdered with particles, in the same manner as the wings.

The female differs only in the ground colour being a little darker, and in having a transverse ray of condensed particles, which reaches from the internal border nearly to the middle.

The caterpillar is probably very similar to that of P. Arjuna, described by Dr. Horsfield.[2]

  1. Encyclop. Methodique, Art. Papillon, p. 67. No. 116.
  2. Descrip. Catal. of Lepid. of Indian Company, pl. i. fig. 14.