6 7 



These are the insects for which I have proposed the general name of Omithopterina—z group I shall endeavour to 

 properly characterise in that place. 



Admitting therefore these foregoing considerations, we have at the present time a vast geographical area of the 

 globe— including portions of four continents, where Ornithoptera may be found. 



A broad geographical outline then gives us the following general results, leaving the details to be considered 

 later on : — > 



i. The genus Drurya ranges over a large portion of West Africa, from Old Calabar to some locality far up the 

 Congo River, and other districts. 



2. The genus Schoenbergia has its home in German New Guinea, and the Island of Waigeu. 



3. The genus Ornithoptera inhabits many parts of Australia, the Molucca, Papuan, and Solomon Archipelagos, 

 and at least portions of New Guinea, both British and German. 



4. The genus ^Etheoptera has its metropolis in the Solomon Islands. 



5. The genus Trogonoptera inhabits Borneo and Sumatra, and one of the Philippine Islands. 



6. The genus Pompeus ranges over India and up nearly into Thibet, Ceylon, Java, a large proportion of the 

 East Indian and Papuan Archipelagos, the Philippines, and New Guinea. 



7. The Ornithopterina may be found in S. America, from Brazil to Panama ; and in Central America almost 

 into Mexico, besides some of the West Indian Islands — Jamaica and Haiti, for example. 



Thus it will appear that with the exception of Africa and the New World, this tribe is confined to Oriental 

 Countries. None of its members inhabit Europe, the four or five species of Papilionida? that inhabit this Continent 

 are very far removed from the Ornithoptera, and two of these are Asiatic ; but none are known in China or Japan, so far 

 as I am aware, while in Asia they are probably not to be found so far N. West of India as Afghanistan. 



Having given this general view, it now becomes a duty to enter with more detail into the geographical distribution 

 of the first four genera, which are contained in this vol., leaving the remaining part of the subject to its appropriate 

 place in the 2nd vol., when it will be supplemented by special tables, which will enable us to understand at a glance 

 the range of each species or variety of the tribe. 



1. THE GENUS DRURYA. 



The geographical area over which this genus is found, is, broadly speaking, immense, as may be seen by reference 

 to Map 1 ; and as regards the type species D. Antimachus it is very unlikely that we yet know the full extent of its 

 territory ; for as the interior of West and S.-West Africa become more fully and zoologically explored, probably a vast 

 number of unsuspected localities may be established for it. Judging from some indications afforded in the chrono- 

 logical history of its discovery, this species would appear to be rather a wandering or agressive one — gradually extend- 

 ing its territory as fastas the discovery of the necessary conditions renders this possible. And this is all the more 

 possible and probable inasmuch as it has for some good and imaginable reason in the past of its history been caused 

 to assume an Acrasoid livery ; for, though the Acraea which originally it superficially copied has probably long been 

 extinct, and the Ornithoptera is no longer able to benefit by its association with an insect of higher family rank, yet its 

 swift flight, and very prominent appearance of being an inedible species may be very potent factors in enabling it to 

 live and gradually extend its area with little or no persecution. This would be rendered even more easy, as both°sexes 

 of the species wear the same protective adornments and wing-forms. 



The first example which came to England in 1775 was brought from Sierra Leone, or from a North Latitude 

 of 8° 29' or so, and a _ West Longitude of 13° 15'. It may be that the insect (a $ ) was not taken in any of the swamps 

 or mountainous localities near the settlement, but at some locality a good way inland ; and this would account for such 

 a fine and attractive insect not again appearing for so man}' years. 



The next place where it was found was Creek Town, Old Calabar, in the Bight of Biafra, about 52 miles N. by 

 W. of Fernando Po in 5 N. lat., and 7 30' E. long. ; after this again, in the Gaboon, nearly five degrees further South, 

 in about 9 30' of E. longitude ; then at Ambas Bay, North of the Cameroons ; and then again at the North of 

 Sherboro' River, no great distance from where it had first been discovered. In a little over i° 45' or 50' S. of the Gaboon 

 begins the Ogowai (or Egowe) River, in the French Congo district, and about 3 E. of its mouth the species has been 

 found more plentifully. It was taken also by Mr. William Bonny on the journey with Stanley from Yambuya on the 

 Aruwimi River, through the Great Forest of Central Africa ; a district in which the Butterflies appear to consist for the 

 most part of species common to the West Coast — very few peculiar to the East Coast being met with. The Aruwimi 

 River is one of the more important tributaries of the Congo. It empties itself into that great river at Basoko, in about 

 22° 40' E. long., and 1° 18' N. lat. Yambuya, where the species was- taken, is situated in 25 6' E. long., and i° 12' N. 



