44 



followed inwardly by green atoms. The secondaries are 

 golden, subdued through half the cell and lower half of 

 wing by caerulean blue, and between the 3rd median 

 branch, and sub-median nervure by rosy atoms on the 

 blue green ; a longitudinal golden mark occurs in the 

 green below the costal nervure. The sub-marginal black 

 spots are 7 in number, and vary in form as usual. 



Length of costa < 

 mms. respectively. 



mms. ; of abdomen or antennae 35 



Hab. unknown ; but probably Duke of York Island. 



The appearance of the accompanying ? will be best 

 shown by the plain figure which may be found in the 

 plate devoted to these varieties. 



$ . In the museum of the Hon. Walter Rothschild, 

 this very striking variety is quite a delicate light violet 

 on all the wings, but deepest and richest in the band 

 running up the exterior margin ; but this colour is greatly 

 modified in parts by grey greenish atoms,which, on the lower 

 wings, and the posterior angle of the upper wings gives it 

 a slightly greenish-brown appearance, which is especially 

 noticeable in the discoidal cell of the secondaries, where 

 the black atoms tend to reveal it more fully. In parts 

 where these atoms do not appear the violet colour is 

 singularly beautiful, and is most intense when seen oppo- 

 site the light. When viewed against the light the whole 

 of the wings look leaden in colour, and smoky on the 

 black, with golden reflections : the sericeous sexual patch, 

 or brand, appearing quite a brown-red by comparison, 



though its normal tint is smoky brown. There are two 

 almost obsolete black discal spots on the secondaries ; the 

 thoracic stripe is also violet and green. 



The shape and size of the sexual brand differ con- 

 siderably from those of other species, being more ragged 

 in outline at the lower edges, longer than in some species, 

 with the point towards the hind margin often nearly 

 separated from the main pupaeform mark, and generally 

 appearing as a small head. [See the 2nd Plate illustrat- 

 ing this species.] 



The underside of the variety before us strongly sug- 

 gests the under surface and markings of O. Pegasus — the 

 green oi the lower wings being a combination of vegetable 

 green, golden green, blue green, and violet green, with 

 lemon-coloured streaks at the anal angle, and one or two 

 outer marginal spots ; the black suborbicular spots of the 

 hind wings are 6 in number, and much like those of 

 Pegasus. The colours of the upper wing on the same 

 surface, are quite subdued peacock-blues and greens. 

 The abdominal marginal fringe consists of long light 

 burnt-sienna hairs. 



I may here remark that this fringe of hairs is peculiar 

 to the true Ornithoptera and Pompeoptera : those of the 

 Pompeoptera and ^Etheoptera subgenera differing con- 

 siderably in length and in other respects. 



Length of costa 72 mms. 



Hab. Probably Duke of York Island. 



