1864. | Trimen on the Butlerflies of Madagascar. 653 
families, viz.:-—Papilionide, 2; Pieridw, 1; Danaide, 4; Ny mpha- 
lide, 7; Satyride, 2; Lycwnide, 3; Hesperidw, 4. In Mauritius 21 
occur, in Bourbon 18 ; 16 being found in both islands. All but 8 are 
known to inhabit Madagascar :* and of these 8 species 4 (Pyrameis Hip- 
pomene, Bd., Neptis Dumetorum, Bd., Nisoniades Sabadius, and Pam- 
plila Borbonica, Bd.) occur in both islands ; 2 (Papilio disparilis and 
Huplea Gondotii, Ba.) are confined to Bourbon ; while 2 (P. Phorbanta, 
Linn., and Pamphila Marchalii, Bd.) seem peculiar to Mauritius. 
Gondotii (of Bourbon) and Hippomene, Sabadius, and Borbonica (of 
both islands) are natives of Africa, and therefore in all probability 
inhabit the great intermediate country of Madagascar. This leaves us 
but 4 species truly endemic to the Mascarene Islands, or, omitting the 
2 doubtfully distinct Papiliones,t only 2, viz—Neptis Dumetorumt and 
Pamphila Marchalii, the latter being confined to Mauritius. Besides 
these 2, only 5 others (which are found in Madagascar) are wanting in 
Africa. 
Adding to the 73 butterflies of Madagascar the 8 Mascarene species 
not yet discovered in the great island, we arrive at a total for the 
group of 81 species of Diurnal Lepidoptera, of which 47 are known to 
be natives of Africa, while the great majority of the remaining species 
exhibit unmistakable affinity to African forms. 
The evidence here brought forward, incomplete as it is, and limited 
in its application to but part of a single order of insects, contrasts 
strangely indeed with that adduced by Dr. Sclater with regard to the 
Mammals of Madagascar. Every order of Mammalia in the island 
possessing more than a single representative (the bats only excepted), 
presents several endemic genera, some of which exhibit the most pro- 
found modification of structure. Among the Lepidopterous insecis, as 
far as the Rhopalocera are concerned,$ not one new genus has been 
discovered. While the relations between the Mammals of Madagascar 
and Africa are shown to be few and remote, and not one species is with 
certainty known to inhabit both regions, the very strongest afiinity 
exists between the butterflies, more than half of the insular species, 
and 31 of the 33 genera, being indigenous to Africa.|| This seems 
the more remarkable when one considers the much greater facilities 
for modification, during an equal lapse of time, which insects, numer- 
ous in individuals and rapid in succession of generations, would appear 
to present as contrasted with the comparatively scarce and slowly- 
* This supposes P. Phorbanta and disparilis to be distinct species from each 
other and from P. Nireus and Epiphorbas ; otherwise the number would be 6. 
+ The abnormal coloration of the 2 Disparilis is very remarkable, and looks 
very like a modification, now in progress, of the Papilio in imitation of Euplxa 
Gondotii, the only other large butterfly inhabiting Bourbon. 
{ Taken by Mr. Layard in Mauritius. 
§ Almost the same might be affirmed of the whole order, for of the 35 genera 
of Heterocera given in the ‘Faune de Mad., &c., only one, Borocera, Bd. (closely 
allied to the African Megasomz), appears endemic, unless Sindris, Bd. (given as a 
genus of Tineina), be peculiar to the island. 
| In connection with this it is an interesting fact that Acrxa, so typical and 
highly-developed an African group, presents more species in Madagascar than any 
other genus. 
VOL. 1. 2% 
