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V. Note on the Papilio polydecta of Cramer. By 

 Lionel de Niceville. 



[Read December 5th, 1883.] 



Plate III. 



The correct identification of species described by old 

 authors is a matter of much importance to all workers 

 in Natural History, and as that of the above butterfly is 

 shrouded in considerable doubt I write the following in 

 the hope that the specimens described may be accepted 

 by lepidopterists as finally settling what this insect 

 really is. 



I have lately received a pair of a Mycalesis from Mr. F. 

 Mackwood, taken in Ceylon, one of which bears a ticket 

 with the following in Mr. Moore's handwriting — " ? i:)olij- 

 decta. Not in Lep. Ceyl." These specimens do not 

 agree with Cramer's figure (Pap. Ex., vol. ii., pi. cxliv., 

 figs. E, F, 1777) of P. ijolydecta in the following points : 

 • — On the upper side of the hind wing there is only one 

 ocellus in the second median interspace, the second 

 ocellus in the first median interspace in M. jjolydecta 

 being absent, and the fulvous marginal lines are obso- 

 lete. On the under side of the fore wing M. polydecta 

 has two fulvous marginal bands inwardly defined with 

 black lines, which are absent from my specimens ; the 

 four discal ocelli are more prominent and perfect, and 

 placed one in each interspace from the first median to 

 the lower discoidal interspace, while the Ceylon male 

 has no ocellus in the third median interspace, but there 

 is one in the first discoidal interspace, the total number 

 (four) thus remaining the same. The female, however, 

 has five ocelli, the missing one in the male being 

 minutely present. The number of ocelli in the hind 

 wing in the Ceylonese specimens is the same as in M. 

 polydecta, but they are all much smaller, and arranged 

 in a more sinuous line. In M. polydecta, however, 

 beyond the ocelli is a prominent bluish-white band, a 

 dark, very zigzag, fuscous line, then a pale yellow band, 



TEANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1884. PART I. (APRIL.) 



