ORNITHOPTERA CASSANDRA AND O. RICHMONDIA. 17 



One of these cocoon-masses* is forwarded, but some are larger ; 

 from a larger one I obtained seventeen moths. The cocoons are 

 so placed that each moth can get out — at least, that is my 

 experience. 



ORNITHOPTERA CASSANDRA and 0. RICHMONDIA. 

 By F. p. Dodd. 



Some entomologists are not quite satisfied that these fine 

 butterflies are distinct, for they are so alike in their larval and 

 perfect stages ; the larvae feed on Aristolochia of different species, 

 and the males of both have the strange habit of frequently flying 

 in pairs, it being quite a common sight to see a male of either 

 closely followed by another. A writer in the ' Victorian 

 Naturalist ' mentions this peculiarity in richmondia, and I have 

 noticed it myself in the Brisbane district. 



With the larger and northern species cassandra, I am familiar 

 in all its stages. From an article which I read in the ' Entomo- 

 logist ' several years ago, I can state that that the eggs are 

 identical in colour ; the iarvse present a few slight differences, 

 the principal being that cassandra is generally darker, and with- 

 out a trace of the "invisible green " discernible in richmondia. 

 The pupa of the latter is vivid green, as mentioned in the article 

 referred to, and as seen by myself upon one occasion in the 

 Brisbane Museum. 



Cassandra chrysalis may be mentioned as being of a light 

 brown underneath, and yellow above, between the wings and along 

 to tip of abdomen. Pupae in my boxes occasionally varied in a 

 slight degree in the yellow colouring, and pupae taken on green 

 leaves in tbe bush were identical with mine. Therefore, I presume, 

 such a wide and constant difference in the colour of the pupae of 

 the two butterflies is sufficient to prove that they are entirely 

 distinct. A healthy pupa of cassandra is being forwarded to Dr. 

 Turner, which may safely reach England. Most of the others of 

 a brood produced imagines in May ; this and several others still 

 left were no doubt destined to outlast the long dry period we have 

 between March and December or January. During some years' 

 residence in Townsville, I have never seen the butterfly before 

 December ; so I hope that this particular chrysalis may be 

 viewed by some of the entomologists of London. Should it 

 emerge, an empty shell is also sent, which shows the colouring 

 of a living chrysalis fairly well. 



Warburton Street, Townsville, Queensland. 



* This reminds us somewhat of a cluster of cocoons of Axylioniia sociella, 

 but the silk of which it is composed is coarser. — Ed. 



ENTOM. — JANUARY, 1902. C 



