5. The abdominal margin of the 3 is fringed with long 

 sienna brown hairs (often n mm. in length), which either 

 fold over and across the abdomen, or laterally and nearly 

 beneath it. In the 2 these are not so long, and are 

 darker. The breast of the two sexes of the typical 

 Ornithoptera are ornamented with crimson scarlet spots 

 or patches. The abdominal fold of the 2 is always 

 simple, and very hairy above ; the portions of wing 

 within the cell of secondaries and from thence to the 

 fold is also furnished with long hairs over the brown sur- 

 face, while the posterior margin of the Primaries is 

 generally strongly fringed, especially nearest the base. 



The markings on both surfaces of the wings of each 

 sex are often very asymmetrical, especially in the ? , and 

 very variable in form and number ; and while in the 2 2 

 no two specimens of the same species can be found 

 exactly alike, it is difficult to meet with a specimen in 

 which the markings are exactly alike on both wings, or, in 

 some cases, the same in number. The spots on under sur- 

 faces of the hind wings in the 3 are also remarkably irre- 

 gular on the two sides. The species of the typical group, 

 with certain well marked exceptions, very closely resemble 

 each other, except in size, in each sex ; and we think it 

 would be possible to find only one or two true species, as 

 actually existing, if we could get together a sufficiently 

 extensive series of each local form for comparison. Even 

 the size of the examples of a species varies so much that 

 a 2 of 0. Richmondia may be found as large as a 2 of 

 0. Cassandra ; or a 2 Cassandra as small as a 2 Richmondia. 



The browns and whites, or greys of the 2 2 vary greatly 

 in intensity from very light to very dark shades, and these 

 also change with every alteration of position in light. 

 The greens of the 3 3 in each species vary in intensity 

 from blue-green and emerald to a golden green and 

 golden-green yellow ; both blacks and greens are always 

 shot with opalescent colours or reflections, ranging from 

 purple to orange and copper, so that the 3 of nearly every 

 species, viewed very obliquely against the light looks 

 absolutely like Priamoptera Crcesus. 



The abdomen of each 3 is of the richest yellow, with 

 a longitudinal dorsal stripe of the same colour, but 

 faintly orange, extending from the thorax to the anal 

 segment. This is always easily discernible, and in each 

 segment appears as if enclosed in sub-parallel lines of 



lesser brilliancy, the lower part of each segment being 

 somewhat broader than the upper — broadest half way up 

 the abdomen, tapering off at the anal segment. The 

 anal segment is also generally decorated with a triangulate 

 spot of black, broadest at the top, and marking out the 

 sutures of the anal valves ; five or six black lateral dots 

 are found on the abdomen, and sometimes more or less 

 pale black cloudings. In the 2 2 the abdomen is, of 

 course, stouter, but not so long in proportion to the hind 

 wings, generally an ochreous grey, with a dorsal black, or 

 brownish longitudinal stripe or band; or in some species 

 a deep grey black with darker and broader stripe, and 

 always lateral dots midway between each segment ; the 

 subdorsal parts very yellow, the segments strongly accen- 

 tuated with jet black; the anal valves with ochreous brown 

 or orange scales. 



The thorax stout ; in the 3 3 densely clothed with 

 velvety black hairs, the 2 2 with dark brown, the outlines 

 of the tegulse more or less visible, according to the con- 

 dition of the specimen. A rich shining metallic green 

 ray in the middle of the thorax, varying in length in the 

 different species, and about i-4th its width ; in the 2 this 

 mark is narrower, not so long, often scarcely visible, and 

 greenish yellow or greenish grey according to the species. 



The length of the discoidal cell of the Primaries in the 

 males is generally much more than half that of the wing — 

 in the females nearly half the length ; of the secondaries 

 of the males 2-3rds, and in the females slightly less than 

 half the length of the wings. The Pseudoneura or false 

 nervures* which occupy the cell, are not so prominent as 

 in the Pompous group, and the arrangement slightly 

 varies, the upper or ist branch being rather shorter than 

 in Pompeoptera. 



The legs are relatively unequal in length : the length of 

 the tibia of the first pair is about i-3rd less than of the 

 2nd and 3rd pairs, which are approximately equal : the 

 Tarsi are also proportionally shorter ; but as species and 

 even individuals vary in the length of the parts of each 

 pair of legs to a measureable extent, this subject will be ' 

 treated of in its proper place. The ungues or claws are 

 simple, as in all the Papilionidae. The haustellum or 

 spiritrompe is of a moderate length, rather larger and 

 more prominent than in the Nymphalidcc, and not hidden 

 as it is in the latter by their large palpi. 



* These are a system of lines, generally situated within the discoidal cells of the 

 wings of most of the lepidoptera, sometimes beyond the cells, appearing in some 

 genera as if they were actually branches of the true neuration of the insect. In some 

 genera they seem to be caused by simple folds or indentations of the membrane, 

 though they are really visible on both surfaces ; but in others, they are very strongly 

 impressed, and still further accentuated by black scales along their entire length, often 

 very broadly, so that the eye is almost brought to believe that they are real veins. 

 Examples of this are found in the species of the Pompasus group of Ornithoptera. As 

 these are all arranged according to definite laws, so that their position and special 

 number is always constant in each family or genus, we thus obtain a series 

 of subordinate characters of considerable importance, I think, which have been too 

 much overlooked. I propose to call these Pseudmieuta or false veins Their number 

 in the cells of the Ornithoptera and Papilionidae is generally 4. These commence 

 from a common stem at a point close to the base, and are almost arranged in pairs. 

 One pair branches off at a 4th of the cell length from the base ; these are of unequal 

 length, the lowest curving towards the median and terminating at its juncture 

 with the 2nd median nervures; the next terminates close to the 2nd discoidal 

 nervule ; the other pair sends one branch straight up the middle of the cell to curve 

 suddenly to its terminal point at the commencement of the ist discoidal nervule ; 

 the upper one is shorter (or the same length as the lowest), with its terminal point at 

 the starting of the costal nervure ; the two middle branches are of equal length, i.e. 

 the whole length of the cell. The ist and 4th are also equal, but only 2-3rds the 

 length of the cell. Nearly midway between the ist and 2nd discoidal nervules a new 

 branch generally commences, bifurcating 4 or 5 mm. from the 2nd branch, and 

 passing across the 2nd discocellular nervub, so as to bend it, extends from i-3fd to 

 half the length to the posterior margin of the wing. A strong false vein or fold again 

 originates nearly at the base from the submedian nervure, and runs on midway 

 between that and the median almost or quite to the hind margin of the wing. This 

 is only on the Primary wing : the arrangements of direction in the cell of the pos- 



terior wing is a little different. These discal Pseudoneura may be numbered 

 1, 2, 3, and 4, commencing from the top of the cell. 



There are in addition to these the folds of the wing half-way between each nervule, 

 commencing from the posterior margin and running inwards. These are often very 

 strongly pronounced, and may possibly be intended to give flexibility to the wing : 

 this arrangement however is not often found on the posterior wings. In the earlier 

 families of butterflies, the Heliconidm, and the Nymphalida the Pseudoneura are not so 

 numerous or complex in the cells, two being the general number as far as I can trace 

 them, though the hind marginal folds are always present. In the Itlwmias they 

 undoubtedly exist, but are very difficult to see. They are less numerous in the 

 Bombyoida: and some other moths, though often curiously arranged, and made to 

 appear as branches of real nervures. Having examined several of the Hymenoptera 

 in my museum, especially examples of the huge Xycolopida, or Carpenter Bees, and 

 some of the Tabanidce of the Dipterous order I find strong indications of a similar 

 system, often of a very beautiful character. 



Were it not that other orders than the Lepidoptera therefore possess these inter- 

 esting arrangements, one would be disposed to view them as the remains of what in 

 far distant ancestors were real veins, and of a rank nearly that of the simple ocelli to 

 be found at the crown of the heads of most orders of insects, especially as in Papilio 

 they became so suggestive of the more complex neuration of the moths, from which 

 probably some of the diurnea have descended. But as it seems evident that in the 

 Hymenoptera and Diptera the object to be attained is flexibility of wing, we must 

 assume the same for them in the lepidoptera, a function somewhat similar to that 

 served by the lines inside the human hand, and on the under parts of the human foot. 

 There is one other possibility : a useful contrivance for facilitating the foldings of the 

 wings in the chrysalis, though the latter is hardly probable. A careful examination 

 of all the orders of insects, and family and by family in each order, would throw much 

 light upon this subject. 



