93 



Genus PAPILIO. 



Passing from the Ornithoptera, which may be 

 esteemed the chiefs and princes of their race, we 

 now come to the Papilios, properly so called, some 

 of which are scarcely inferior in their dimensions 

 and imposing aspect. Such, at least, is the case 

 with P. Antimachus and P. Anterior, which besides 

 their large size, partake of some of the other charac- 

 ters of the group just referred to, and thus form the 

 passage from it to Papilio. But the great majority 

 are of very inferior size, and many of them so dis- 

 similar in aspect that they might be thought to 

 afford sufficient distinctions for arranging them in 

 numerous different genera. On a close examina- 

 tion, however, the species are found to be so inti- 

 mately allied in all essential parts of structure, that 

 the most judicious systematists have not attempted 

 to separate them. Such authors as have followed 

 an opposite course, Hubner for example, have 

 proved by no means successful in establishing sub- 

 divisions ; and the only effect of such a proceeding 

 is to encumber the subject with a number of generic 

 names without eliciting a more philosophical ar- 

 rangement, or one better adapted to aid the student. 

 As at present constituted, the genus is compact and 



