2(3 EUROPEAX BuTTF.nFI.IES AXD MoTIlS. 



middle of August. Its flight is very powerful and rapid, turning about like a swallow to avoid 

 the net or any obstacle. It is very shy, and almost impossible to approach when settled. It 

 generally rests high on the trees, and delights in the hottest localities, avoiding the shade of deep 

 woods. It is most common on dry hills and in the dry beds of torrents, up and down which 

 it careers without stopping to rest ; and in such localities it may be captured on the w ing. Like 

 other Nyniplialidcc, it has a great preference for the same spot or twig, and you may find it day 

 after day, when at rest, on its favourite twig or branch. The larva is green, with a yellow stripe on 

 the sides and two green ocellated spots with blue pupils on the 7th and 9th segments. Horns 

 yellowish, tipped with reddish. It may be found throughout the spring and summer. The 

 butterfly is figured at PI. 11, Fig. 4. 



FAMILY IV.— DANAID^. 



Rather large butterflies, chiefly inhabiting the warmer regions of the earth. The front pair 

 of legs are rudimentary in both sexes ; the club of the antennae is gradually formed ; and the 

 inner margin of the hind-wings is not grooved. The larva is tolerably stout, smooth, and 

 cylindrical, and is furnished with one or more pairs of long, slender, fleshy filaments. The pupa 

 is suspended by the tail only. These butterflies are distasteful to birds, and their tissues are 

 exceedingly tough and elastic, in consequence of which they are not only abundant wherever 

 they occur, but are frequently " mimicked," as it is called, by butterflies or moths which are 

 destitute of a similar protection. This is especially the case with Danaiis C/iiysippiis, the markings 

 of which are closely copied by those of five or si.x African or Indian butterflies belonging to 

 different groups. In most cases it is the female only which resembles D. Chrysippus, while the 

 male is utterly different. The larvae of the only species which we need notice feed on shrubs 

 of the genus Asckpias 



GENUS I. — DANAU.S (LINN.). 



Large butterflies, with the wings slightly dentated and moderately long and broad. The 

 costa of the fore-wings is arched, and the hind margin is slightly curved. The hind-wings are 

 rounded, and rather shorter than the fore -wings. They are generally of pale colours (often 

 fulvous), with black borders, which are often spotted with white. The genus Danaits is found on 

 all the Continents, but is absent from the greater part of Europe and Northern and Central Asia, 

 except Japan, where the Indian Fauna curves round to the north, east of the central ranges, just 

 as the South European Fauna curves round into France, west of the Alps, at the other extremity 

 of the great continent of Asia-Europe. 



I. D. Chrysippus (Linn.). — Pale reddish or tawny, with the tip of the fore-wings broadly black, 

 crossed by a band of large white spots. The borders of the wings are also edged with black 

 and dotted with white, and there are four black spots about the middle of the hind-wings. 

 The nervures of the hind-wings are narrowly bordered with white beneath. The variety 

 Alcippus (Cram.) has white hind-wings, bordered with orange v.ithin the black borders ; and 

 D. Doriptus (Klug) wants the black and white markings at the tip of the fore-wings. 

 Expands from 2), to 3! inches. D. Clirysippiis occurs throughout Africa, Western Asia, the 

 East Indies, and Greece. It was formerly taken in Italy, but was probably introduced, and 

 has not succeeded in establishing itself. D. Alcippus is common in Africa and Western Asia ; 

 ■and D. Doripptis in North Africa and Western Asia ; but I have never seen Indian specimens 



