140 THE MALAYAN PAPILIONIDJE AS 



moths, I yet maintain that, owing to the complete 

 and even development of every part of their organi- 

 zation, these insects best represent the highest per- 

 fection to which the butterfly type has attained, and 

 deserve to be placed at its head in every system of 

 classification. 



Distribution of tlie Papilionidce. 



The Papilionidaa are pretty widely distributed over 

 the earth, but are especially abundant in the tropics, 

 where they attain their maximum of size and beauty, 

 and fhe greatest variety of form and colouring. 

 South America, North India, and the Malay Islands 

 are the regions where these fine insects occur in the 

 greatest profusion, and where they actually become 

 a not unimportant feature in the scenery. In the 

 Malay Islands in particular, the giant Ornithoptera? 

 may be frequently seen about the borders of the cul- 

 tivated and forest districts, their large size, stately 

 flight, and gorgeous colouring rendering them even 

 more conspicuous than the generality of birds. In 

 the shady suburbs of the town of Malacca two large 

 and handsome Papilios (Memnon and ISTephelus) are 

 not uncommon, flapping with irregular flight along 

 the roadways, or, in the early morning, expanding 

 their wings to the invigorating rays of the sun. In 

 Amboyna and other towns of the Moluccas, the mag- 

 nificent Deiphobus and Severus, and occasionally even 

 the azure-winged Ulysses, frequent similar situations, 

 fluttering about the orange-trees and flower-beds, or 



