Iviii 



imperfectly (as a stalk of grass breaks), the terminal portion not separated, 

 but fallen at an angle. When viewed by transmitted light the black 

 tubercles assume a sub-pellucid chocolate-brown colour." 



The larva described by no means agrees with any form which has 

 hitherto been supposed proper to the genus Papilio, but rather suggests 

 one of the great Satwniada, such as Saniia Cecropia. Papilio larv;i3 with 

 body projections are indeed known in a few groups, but not with columns 

 crowned with divergent bristles, " The caterpillars of Papilio," says 

 Boisduval, " may be distinguished * * * by the projections of their 

 bodies never being hispid at their extremities" (Spec. Gen. des Lepidop., 

 i. 184). Edward Doubleday says, " The larvae of P. Hector, Poh/dorus, &c., 

 * * =i= have tubercles on each segment disposed in rows ; differing from 

 those of Ornithoptera in wanting the external sheath for the tentacula, from 

 those of Thais in not having the tops of the tubercles hairy" (Gen. Diurn. 

 Lepidop., p. 6). The tubercles described by Mr. Gosse have nothing in 

 common with the soft warts of Ornithoptera and Thais. Dr. Horsfield 

 arranges (Lep. Mus. E. T. Co., i. 118) all Papilio larvae under three 

 divisions according to their forms, but neither of these has much in common 

 with the one now described. 



The author's correspondent, in his slight description of the living larva, 

 mentioned " a spot of white" between the frontal horns, which Mr. Gosse, 

 however, has not been able to detect. He asks, " Is it possible that what 

 he saw was the extruded tip of an osmaterium ?" 



That Papilio Homerus should have a larva of peculiar form is the less 

 surprising if the species "occupies a position in its genus quite unique" 

 (D. G. Rutherfoi'd, loc. cit.). Its most closely allied species is P. Andrasmon 

 of Haiti, an insect with which the author is unacquainted. Within his own 

 limited sphere of comparison the nearest approach to Homerus, in form of 

 wings and arrangement of colours, appears to him to be the female of 

 Erechtheus from the Papuan Archipelago, and then Pelaus of Jamaica. 

 But both of these are very remote, and no more is known of their larvae 

 than of that of Homerus. 



