i 7 8 



LLOYD S NATURAL HISTORY. 



The larvae have generally four horns on the head, and a 

 bifid tail. 



This genus contains a considerable number of Indian, 

 African, and Australian species ; they are insects of consider- 

 able but not usually of very large size, about three or four 

 inches being the usual expanse. One species only is European; 

 it is found on the shores of the Mediterranean, and is prob- 

 ably derived from an Abyssinian species which greatly 

 resembles it. It may have straggled down the Nile in former 

 times, and then have become modified in the Mediterranean 

 Sub-region ; but neither the Abyssinian nor the European 

 species is found in Lower Egypt at the present day. 



With few exceptions, the Indian and Australian species are 

 tawny, pale green, or pale yellow, with black borders ; or are 

 black, more or less broadly banded with the paler colours. 



The species of this genus have a very lofty and powerful 

 flight, and are very difficult to capture. They may sometimes 

 be attracted, like other high flying Butterflies, by strongly- 

 smelling substances, and sometimes they suck the sap exuding 

 from trees. They have also a habit of frequenting the same 

 twig, and returning to it after a longer or shorter flight. Some 

 species have a very extensive range in Africa, being met with 

 from Abyssinia to the West Coast, and to Natal, while others 

 are much more restricted in their range. Some, such as C. 

 eupale (Drury), which is one of the smaller species, are remark- 

 able for the unusual character of their colouring, which is light 

 green in the species just mentioned ; but others, such as the 

 European C. jasius and its allies, are distinguished by the 

 beautiful patterns of the under surface. They may be divided 

 into a considerable number of small groups, which some 

 authors consider to be of generic value. 



In some species, as in C. jasius, the sexes are nearly alike, but 

 in others they are very dissimilar both in form and colouring. 



