62 



THE ARTAXERXES BUTTERFLY. 



PLATE XVIII. 



Papilio Artaxeixes, Fab. Ent. Sys. t. 3, p. 1. 297-129.. 

 Donovan's Brit. Ins. xv. p. 1, pi. 541 Rennie's Consp. 

 of But. p. 19. 



THE antennae are elevated at the tip ; the wings 

 are entire, sooty black, or brownish black, with a 

 white dot on the middle of the superior pair, and 

 with rufous lunules on the inferior ones ; margins 

 beneath white, with rufous dots ; the under surface 

 is of a pale brown, with numerous white eyelets, 

 black in the centre. The male is lighter than the 

 female. The extent of the wings is from one inch 

 to an inch and a sixth. It appears in the winged 

 state at the end of July. 



This insect was first discovered on Arthur Seat, 

 near Edinburgh, by Dr Leach, and also on the 

 Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh, by the same 

 gentleman. Till that period, it was esteemed as 

 the highest possible rarity. It has also been found 

 at Dumfries and in Devonshire. 



The Papilio Artaxerxes is by no means striking 

 in its appearance, but valuable on account of its 

 rarity. 



