98 DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW ASSAMESE SPECIES OF PAPILIO. 
PAPILIO MEGARUS, Westw. Plate 72, fig. 2. 
P. alis rotundatis, posticis ecaudatis, fusco-nigris; albido-strigatis et maculatis lunulisque 
submarginalibus in alis posticis, alis subtus griseo-fuscis, eodem modo strigatis et maculatis. 
Expans. alar. antic. unc. 34. Habitat in Assam. D. Jenkins. In Mus. nostr. 
This insect has so little the appearance of a true Papilio, as to 
cause it to be easily mistaken for one of the Danaides. The 
arrangement of the wing-veins, however, proves that this is only a 
relation of analogy, of which several other species also furnish us 
with examples; especially the Papilio paradoxus, which is a true 
species of this genus. The present species is most nearly allied to 
P. Macareus, of the Encyclop. Méthod. (P. striatus. Z. Somm.) 
The upper surface of the wings is blackish-brown, the basal portions 
of the wings striated, and the apical portion maculated with whitish 
marks, the latter forming two rows parallel with the apical margin 
of the fore wings and the hind wings with a submarginal row of 
lunules, and without pale incisions ; the hind wings are much more 
maculated beyond the middle than in P. Macareus. The under 
side is similar to the upper in markings, except that the marks in 
the discoidal cell of the fore wings are much fainter, and the ground 
colour of all the wings is a golden greyish brown. 
The beautiful plant represented in the Plate is the Orchidaceous 
Arundina densa of Lindley, from Sineapore. 
THE FIRST BUTTERFLY. 
One of the superstitions prevailing in Devonshire is, that any individual neglecting to kill 
the first butterfly he may see for the season, will have ill-luck throughout the year. The 
following recent example is given by a young lady :—‘‘ The other Sunday, as we were walking 
to church, we met a man running at full speed, with his hat in one hand, and a stick in the 
other. Ashe passed us, he exclaimed, ‘I sha’n’t hat ’em now, I b’lieve.? He did not 
give us time to inquire what he was sv eagerly pursuing; but we presently overtook an old 
man, whom we knew to be his father, and who being very infirm, at upwards of seventy, 
generally hobbled about by the aid of two sticks. Addressing me, he observed, ‘ My zin a 
took away wan a’ my sticks, miss, wan’t be ebble to kill’n now though, I believe.’ ‘ Kill 
what ?? said I. ‘ Why, ’tis a butterfly, miss, the furst hee’th a zeed for the year ; aud they 
zay that a body will have cruel bad luck if a ditn’’en kill a fwrst a zeeth.’ ’—Dorset 
Chronicle. 
