147 



THE GREAT COPPER BUTTERFLY. 



Papilio Hippothoe. BRITAIN. 

 PLATE XVIII. 



Papilio Hippothoe, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 793, n. 264. 

 Donovan's Brit. Ins. pi. 217. 



THE whole upper surface of the wings has a 

 brilliant red copper lustre, as well as the body ; all 

 the wings have an external border of deep black, and 

 the upper ones a row of oblong, transverse, equi- 

 distant, black spots within the border, and two black 

 spots near the centre of the wings ; the border on the 

 lower wings is vandyked at its upper edge ; a black 

 longitudinal line runs along the centre of the body ; 

 the lower wings are semi-swallow-tailed. 



The under surface of the upper wings is brownish 

 ash colour, ocellated with black, having a broad cream- 

 coloured border ; the lower wings are grayish blue, 

 and ocellated with black ; exterior margin, of same 

 colour, within which is a broad border, or fillet, the 

 colour of the upper wings, with a row of equidistant 

 black round spots on each side ; body, beneath, fawn 

 colour. 



This is the largest of the Copper Butterflies which 

 is found in Britain ; it is not uncommon in Scotland. 

 The female is larger than the male, and with a greater 

 number of black spots on the wings. 



