207 



THE AMALTHEA BUTTERFLY. 



Papilio Amalthea. 

 PLATE LIII. 



Papilio Amalthea, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 779, No. 174. 

 Cramer, Desc. de Papillons, iii. p. 29, pi. 209, fig. A. B. 



THE upper wings are entire, and the under ones 

 indented at their posterior edges, with sub-caudate 

 wings, curiously directed obliquely outwards at their 

 points. The insect is black ; within the whole posterior 

 margin there is a double row of white spots, with eight 

 other irregularly placed white spots on both wings ; 

 a sesquilaterous divided band of deep crimson passes 

 over the middle of both upper and under wings, with 

 several spots of the same colour on the upper wings. 

 The body is dark reddish brown, the whole of which 

 is surrounded by a broad band of the same colour, 

 extending from the anterior margin of the upper 

 wings, to the lower inner angle of the under ones ; 

 a transverse narrow band of the same colour runs 

 from the body half way along the exterior margin ; 

 the eyes are scarlet ; and the antennae short. 



The general aspect of this Papilio is rather uncom- 

 mon. It inhabits Surinam, and was first figured by 

 Madame Merian. 



