423 



Variety A., female (fig. 3). 



Dark brown ; both wings with a submarginal band of white spots ; 

 anterior wing with two white spots within the cell, and five large white 

 hastate spots near the apex ; posterior wing with the outer margin 

 spotted with white. 



Variety B, female (fig. 4). 



Anterior wing dark brown.; posterior wing rufous-brown, with a 

 raj of lighter brown within the cell and between each of the nervures ; 

 a submarginal band of rufous lunules ; the outer margin spotted with 

 white. 



Expanse, S 4 inches, $ 4 T 7 ir inches. 

 Hab. Borneo. 



Widely as the four Butterflies figured in the two plates diifer 

 from each other, I have little doubt that they are of the same species, 

 — varieties of paradoxa of Zinken Sommer, and also of telearchus of 

 Hewitson. 



The typical paradoxa is from Java. The insects now described 

 were taken in Borneo by Mr. Wallace. Telearchus is a native of 

 Sylhet. 



2. Papilio noctis, Hewitson. (PI. LXVI. figs. 5, 6.) 



Upper side of female dark brown ; all the nervures, except those 

 which enclose the cell, margined with lighter colour, with white near 

 the apex of the anterior whig and the outer margin of the posterior 

 wing ; posterior wing with a band of dirty white near the outer mar- 

 gin ; outer margin of both wings light yellow. 



Under side as above, except that the margins of the nervures of 

 the anterior wing are whiter, and that the outer margin of the poste- 

 rior wing is broadly cream-colour, marked with a double row of black 

 spots. 



Expanse 4-^j inches. 



Hab. Borneo. 



I had at first named this Butterfly Papilio nox, believing it only 

 a variety of that species. Having since seen several females of nox\ 

 none of which have either the light margin or black spots of the pos- 

 terior wing of this insect, I have thought it better to consider it at 

 present as a distinct species ; I have not, however, done so to follow 

 in the steps of those who give names to varieties, because I think that 

 custom entirely indefensible. 



The Butterflies of the East seem to be subject to vary more than 

 those of other countries. 



It is usual amongst entomologists to argue, that if two insects, 

 however closely resembling each other, come from distant localities, 

 they must be distinct species. I would reverse the argument and 

 say, that two insects, differing but slightly, are most likely distinct 

 species if they come from the same locality ; but if they come from 

 a distance, they are most likely the same species changed by the 



