272 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Habits and Transformations 



XIX. On the Habits and Transformations of a Species of 

 Ornithoptera, allied to O. Priamus, inhabiting the Aru 

 Islands, near New Guinea. By Alfred R. Wal- 

 lace, Esq., Corr. Memb. Ent. Soc, London. 



[Read 7th Dec. 1857.] 



This beautiful insect is very closely allied to O. poseidon, Doub., 

 of which it may be a variety. It is not uncommon in Aru, but 

 the males fly high and rest in high trees, so that it is very difficult 

 to capture them. The females generally fly much lower and more 

 slowly, and it is only when the males are in pursuit of them that 

 the former can be easily taken. It is a beautiful sight to watch a 

 pair of these noble insects fluttering among the thick underwood, 

 the male following every movement of his companion, generally 

 hovering immediately over her, the golden green of his wings 

 absolutely luminous with a brilliancy which nothing in animated 

 nature can surpass, while the other portions are of an intense and 

 perfect blackness in all lights, equally extraordinary and unique. 

 The males are generally about Gg to 7 inches in expanse of wings ; 

 the females 9 inches, and sometimes even 9^ inches. The genus 

 is admirably named, for no insects resemble birds in their flight 

 so much as these, and as they sail majestically over head they may 

 often be momentarily mistaken for such. They frequent the 

 damp and lofty forests ; often, however, coming out into the open 

 patches and pathways. 



The larva exactly resembles in form that of O. Heliacon, figured 

 by Dr. Horsfield, except that the fleshy processes are much 

 longer and more acute, the two dorsal rows being half an inch 

 long. The colour is a rich purple or vinous black. On the 

 seventh segment is an oblique reddish-white band, from the 

 spiracle to the base of the dorsal process, which it incloses. The 

 basal half of all these processes is crimson. The retractile 

 tubercles at the back of the head are short, obtuse, Y-shaped, and 

 of a transparent blood-red colour. They are exserted as in Papilio, 

 and have no separate sheaths, a character which has been given by 

 Boisduval to the genus Ornithoptera, on Dr, Horstield's authority, 

 in the case of O. Heliacon. 



