22 

 rior wings black. A row of eight or nine yellow spots runs along each wing, near the external edge. 

 Within these appears another row, smaller in figure 3, but larger in figure 2, and shaped hke triangles, 

 above which are two spots, one nearly round, the other vei7 oblong, which last is not seen in figure 3. 

 Posterior wings black and dentated, with one tail issuing from each. Six yellow spots appear near 

 the external edge ; and at the anal angle is an orange-coloured one, with a black dot in its centre. Some 

 specimens have a yellow bar running transversely from the row of triangles on the superior wings, and 

 meeting below the extremity of the body, just above the orange spot, as in fig. 2. In some, instead of a 

 bar, is seen a row of spots (as in fig. 3), which are sometimes very faint. Where this happens, the space 

 between this row and the six spots mentioned before, consists of a shining blue colour ; but in proportion 

 as the yellow bar is more or less distinct, the wings have more or less blue on them. 



Under Side'. The under side in all the different varieties differs but very little. The breast, sides, 

 abdomen and feet are black. The anterior wings of a dirty black colour, with nine yellow spots near the 

 external edge ; above these, nearer the body, are eight others, varying in size, and two small clouds or 

 patches close to the anterior edge. Posterior wings, next the shoulders, dirty black, with the inner scol- 

 lops edged with yellow crescents (appearing also on the upper side), within which are six spots near the 

 edge — four orange and two yellow. Seven or eight orange spots, tipped with yellow, run circularly across 

 the middle of the wing. Below each spot in this row is a ray of shining blue, separated by a strong black 

 mark, and scattered with powder-like spots. An orange spot, with a black centre, is placed at the anal 

 angle. 



This species is subject to considerable variation in the size of the internal series of yel- 

 low spots, which is sometimes even entirely obliterated in the females, in which the yellow 

 is much less brilliant, and the spots smaller than in the males. These varieties somewhat 

 resemble Papilio Troilus of Linnaeus, with which, indeed, Drury and Smith* confounded 

 the insect here described. Godart and Boisduval have added to the confusion by their incor- 

 rect references to our author, the first of these writers giving figure 2 of this plate as 

 alone representing P. Asterias, and figs. 3, 4, and 5, (which represent two distinct species) 

 as P. Troilus, Linn, which species Drury has not figured ; and both of these authors 

 quoting figure 2, both under Troilus and Asterias, although Drury expressly states, that 

 the specimens figured at 2 and 3, were reared by him, with many other individuals, from 

 chrysalides, sent from America by his correspondent, who assured him that they proceeded 

 from the same brood. The preparatory states of P. Asterias are figured by Abbot and 

 Smith, and Boisduval. The larva feeds upon Umbelliferse, especially the fennel (Anethum 

 faeniculum, Linn. ), and Daucus Carota, and is very similar to that of Pap. Machaon, which 

 species appears to be replaced in America by P. Asterias, and which makes its appearance 

 in the perfect state three times in the year. Abbot states, that one of the caterpillars 

 assumed the chrysalis state on the 12th of July, and the imago appeared on the 20th. 



♦ Sir J. E. Smith states that the LinnEean cabinet does not contaiu a specimen of this insect, nor of the Ilioneus of" the Insects 

 of Georgia," pi. 2, one of the figures of which was considered by Mr. Jones, the celebrated lepidopterist, to be the Liunsean Troilus. 

 Nevertheless, on the authority ofthe Banksian cabinet lalielled (from recollection alone) by Fabricius, Sir J. E. Smith gave the 

 Asterias under the name of Troilus, and the true Troilus as a new species. 



