﻿u8 



^THEOPTERA VICTORIA, var. Isabella. 



Troides, Victoria, Isabella, Rothschild, "Novitates Zoologicae" Vol. II., p. 655 (1904), 



6* . Anterior wings : most closely resemble the ex- 

 ample of M. Regince figured in Vol. I. plate 23b of this 

 work. The differences are comparatively few, and are as 

 follows : — The large subapical green patch is golden green 

 all over, with green atoms along the 2nd and 3rd sub- 

 median branch, extending inward a little beyond the 

 apical patch as a narrow line ; the inner outline of 

 the patch is more irregular than in Regince, and the lower 

 end is not pointed as in Regince. The colour of this green 

 patch is subject to variation of intensity, according to the 

 position of the insect, but is not so golden-shot as in 

 Regince, at least on the right wing, whatever light it may 

 be viewed in — but on the other wing it becomes a very 

 vivid greenish golden yellow as in Regince ; the lower 

 3rd of the patch has on the inner side a small black 

 spot encroaching on it, the size of the patch is 

 relatively to the size of the insect, the same as in Regince. 

 The basal area of colour is a slightly warm Veronese 

 green, more golden near the precostal nervure,as in the types 

 of Victoria and Regince. This basal green area does not be- 

 come very much more golden even when viewed opposite the 

 light. The discal black invades the green with a large 

 indentation between the median and sub-median ner- 

 vures, and the whole of the dark cell area, and that 

 above and around the sexual brand is, in the proper 

 light, beautifully opalescent. 



Posterior wings : closely resemble those of Regince 

 (see Vol. I., plate 23b, figure 1), except in the green being 

 a richer and more uniform colour, though still tending to 

 become rather golden towards the base, as in Regince ; the 

 black scaling in the cell is intense, extending from the 

 distal end nearly to the base as a black jewelled cone, 

 with its apex at the base of the wing as a fine point, all 

 the veins being margined on both sides with green scales 

 which extend on to the disc, as in all the other forms ; 

 indeed the ground plan of the wing is a uniform velvety- 

 black surface, on which the green pattern with all its 

 minute details is produced by more or less green scaling, 

 until the golden-green submarginal band is reached, where 

 the colour is a continuous band of four rich golden-green 

 curved macula?, extending from the anal to near the 

 apical angles — the three lower ones enclosing vivid golden 

 orange spots— all of which by contact with the deep 

 black of the disc and margins, causes the colours to 

 appear inexpressibly vivid and beautiful. 



[There are several ways of viewing this insect, if we 

 wish to understand its beauties : — (1) Seen very ob- 

 liquely opposite the light, the black of the lower wing is 

 shot with rich purple and violet. (2) Opposite the 



light in a natural position, the green of all the wings is 

 nearly golden and the yellows all become inexpressibly 

 silky golden, especially on the left wings ; and the black 

 of the cell, and below it are a subdued opalescence. (3) 

 Viewed very obliquely against the light, the greens become 

 cupreus, and the yellow saffron coloured, the black of the 

 cell like polished metal with intense ultramarine blue, 

 while the opposite wing may be opalescent with blue and 

 gold and along the edges of some of the veins and the sub- 

 median fold we have flaming ridges of fiery brilliance. 

 (4) Viewed against the light at a moderate distance, all 

 the green becomes deep and dark, and if the distance is 

 a little increased, the green of the cell and disc appear 

 quite violet black, and the anterior wing apical patch and 

 posterior green and golden band are very greatly subdued. 

 It is evident that, as is the case of Humming Birds and 

 Birds of Paradise, in a state of nature, when flying or 

 even resting, these insects must often be nearly invisible, 

 or so modified in appearance as to appear anything but 

 what they are.] 



Under surface of anterior wings : as in Regince, except 

 that the cell and subdiscal areas of black are rather more 

 extensive, the median nervure and its branches more 

 broadly black bordered, the whole appearance of the 

 wing pattern is bolder, and the green areas not quite so 

 golden ; there is also a black spot between the 3rd and 

 4th submedian veins. Under surface of posterior wings 

 as in Regince, but more uniform in its golden tint, and the 

 three submarginal orange spots are rather larger and more 

 elongate than in Regince. [Viewed very obliquely against 

 the light the green of the wings appears vivid saffron 

 yellow ; opposite the light intense golden green.] 



Length of costa 30 rams. ; greatest width of primary 

 wing 35 mms. Greatest length of posterior wing 60 mms. ; 

 greatest width 34 mms. Length of abdomen 36, of an- 

 tennas 34, and of thorax with head 34 mms. The colour 

 and markings of the abdomen do not differ from that of 



j fist pair: femur, 12; tibia, 8; tarsi, 15 mms. 



11 ; 



14; 



Habitat: Isabella Island, Solomon Archipelago. (Meek). 

 In the Tring Museum. 



This variety is most closely allied to Regince, Salvin. 



