Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/188

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

154

CHARAXES JASIUS.


PLATE XVI.


Ochsenheimer.—Pap. Jason, Linn.—Pap. Jasius, Fabr.—Esper. cater, and chrys.—Drury's Insects, i. Pl. 1. fig. 1.—Pap. Jason, Cramer, Pl. 339, A, B.—Nymph. Jasius, Godart, Latreille.


The genus Charaxes was separated from Nymphalis by Ochsenheimer for the reception of this butterfly, which may be regarded as the most beautiful inhabiting Europe. It varies in the expansion of the wings from three to four inches; the surface a rich silky brown, changing slightly with the light. Along the hinder margin of the primary wings there is a broad fulvous band, more or less sinuated on the inner side and narrowly edged with black externally, divided by eight nervures, which are dark brown; rather beyond the middle of the wing, a transverse band of large fulvous continuous spots extends from the costa to the inner margin, and is sometimes continued for a short way on the secondary wings; the latter likewise with a posterior band, formed of contiguous spots of a fulvous colour, more or less tinged with green, preceded by a series of from five to seven bluish-green spots, commencing at the anal angle; the margin itself black, as well