96 PAPILIO. 



but are by far most abundant in intertropical coun- 

 tries. They are more numerous in the new conti- 

 nent than the old, but the difference is by no means 

 considerable. In the former, Brazil alone produces 

 between forty and fifty species ; in the latter, the 

 greatest number occur in the islands of the Indian 

 Archipelago, already referred to as the native coun- 

 try of the magnificent Ornithoptera. The conti- 

 nental parts of India, China, Java, &c. likewise 

 possess many fine species, and a few are found in 

 New Holland. Europe is exceedingly poor in in- 

 sects belonging to this group, there being only four 

 indigenous kinds. These are P. Xutkus, P. Alex- 

 anor, P. Machaon y and P. Podalirius ; the two 

 latter, which are the most common, are well known 

 to extend to Britain. 



The first species selected to exemplify one of the 

 prevailing forms of this important genus, is 



