Thais. 3 



the summer in Europe, North Africa, Asia as far south as the Himalayas, and Western North 

 America. A closely-alUed species {P. Hoipiton, Gene), which is smaller and darker, with a 

 shorter tail, and scarcely any eye-spot on the hind-wings, is found in Corsica and Sardinia. 

 Its larva feeds on Ferula Coniinunis. In England P. Machaon is almost confined to the fens of 

 the south-eastern counties ; but on the Continent it is common in meadows, clover-fields, open 

 places in woods, gardens, &c. The larva is cylindrical, green, with transverse black stripes on 

 the sides, spotted -with orange. It lives on many umbelliferous plants throughout the summer, 

 and is often found in gardens, feeding on the common carrot. It will also cat pimpernel. 

 Figured in all stages at PI. 2, Fig. 3, a — d. 



GENUS II. — THAIS (FABR.). 



Middle-sized butterflies, with very short antennae ; the wings are yellow, with black markings 

 and red spots. Fore-wings rounded at the tips, hind-wings dentated. Larvae with several rows 

 of fleshy tubercles, with stiff bristles at the extremity. They feed on species of Aristolochia, 

 and the pupae are attached by the tail, and a thread round the body. The few known species 

 are confined to the countries bordering on the Mediterranean and Black Seas. 



1. T. Hypcriiiucstra (Scop.), {Polyxcna, W. V.). — Wings above pale yellow, fore-wings with 

 black spots and veins, and a rather broad black band towards the hind margin, followed by a 

 much waved yellow line, edged by a black one. The intermediate spaces on the extreme edge 

 yellow. Hind-wings dentated, the sub-marginal yellow line less deeply indented, and followed by 

 a row of blue and then of red spots. Expands from 2 to 2\ inches. Common in Europe, south 

 of the Alps, from February to May, according to the season. " It is of very short duration, and 

 very sluggish, frequenting marshy grounds, where it flies lazily from flower to flower, settling 

 with expanded wings " (Rev. D. C. Timins). The larva varies from yellowish to grey, with rusty 

 brown warts, red at the ends, and is to be met with in summer. The butterfly is figured at 

 PI. 2, Fig. 4. 



2. T. Riimina (Linn.). — Varies from pale yellow {Mcdesicaste, III, South France) to ochre 

 yellow {Runiina, L., Spain and North Africa), veined and spotted with black. Fore-wings with 

 black borders, spotted in the middle and on the outer edge with yellow. They have also five 

 red spots, and a transparent spot near the tip. Hind-wings dentated, with a dentated sub- 

 marginal black line, within which is a row of red spots, and another red spot near the base. 

 In the variety Hoiinoratii (Boisd.), occasionally found at Digne, the red spots are so much 

 extended as to cover a great part of the wings. Expands from ij to 2i inches. Found in 

 April and May. It is a more active insect than the last, and " frequents localities where the 

 beautiful rose-coloured Cistiis grows. . . . Medcsicaste seldom flies after two or three P.M., while 

 Cassandra \_HypcriJincstra, van] is partial to the afternoon sunshine, and may be seen on the 

 wing till four P.M., or even later" (Timins). Mr. G. F. Mathew found Riiinina common on the 

 Rock of Gibraltar, at the end of February. All the varieties, except Hoiinoratii, appear to be 

 common where they are met with. The larva is greyish or reddish, with six rows of short 

 reddish spines. It is found in March and April. . The butterfly is figured at PI. 2, Fig. 5. 



3. T. Cerisyi (Godt.). — Yellowish-white, with short black streaks on the costa, and black spots 

 near the margins of all the wings, followed on the hind-wings by an inner row of red ones. 

 Hind-wings irregularly dentated, forming one or more short tails. Found in January, February, 

 and May, in Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor. Larva blackish-grey, with j-ellow stripes on 

 the back and sides, and a short red spine on each segment. Found in August. 



