DANAIS. 
5 
Danais chrysippus. 
Papilio chrysippus, Linnjeus, Mus. Ulr. p. 363 (1764) ; Syst. Nat. i. pt. %, p. 767 (1767) ; 
Cram. Pap. Exot. ii. pi. cxviii. figs. C (1777). 
Danais chrysippus, HorsfieUl & Moore, Cat. Lep. E. I. C. i. pi. iv. fig. 7 (larva), fig. 7^ 
(pupa) ; Marsh. & de Nicev. Butt. Ind. i. p. 50, pl.vi. fig. 10, S ? (1883). 
Salatura chrysippus, Moore, Lep. Ceyl. p. 7, pi. iii. figs. 1-1". 
Limnas chrysijipus, Moore, Lep. Indica, p. 36, pl.viii. figs. 1 (larva), l"-!" ( J ? ) (1890j. 
This widely distributed species occurs sparingly in Central and Western 
China up to an elevation of 6000 feet. The specimens appear to be very 
typical, and there seems to be no tendency to vary in the direction of 
var. alcippus, Cram. 
It is recorded from Japan, and, although I have never seen an example 
from that country, it may possibly occur there. There were some specimens 
from Loochoo in the collection of the late Mr. Henry Pryer, now in my 
possession. 
The larva which, in India, is stated by Mr. Moore to feed on Asclepias 
curasavica, and by Col. Lang on Calotropis gigantea, is, together with the 
chrysalis, described by Mrs. T. Vernon WoUaston as follows : — 
" The caterpillar of this Danais is rather more than an inch and a half in length, and of a delicate 
French grey, each segment being ornamented with five black transverse lines, the second and 
third ones of which are somewhat broader and enclose two large yellow transverse patches. 
There is a yellow spiracle-line very much interrupted, the skin being puckered, and the 
spiracles themselves scarcely visible. The head has three broad, transverse, arched, black 
lines, the anterior one of which encloses a yellow space, bordered in front by a straight basal 
line. The third, sixth, and last segments are each furnished with a pair of conepicuous dark 
retractile horns, the anterior pair of which are almost twice the length of the others. When 
full fed it suspends itself by its tail, and turns into an obtuse semitransparent chrysalis, 
beautifully marked with small golden spots, placed elliptically round the head, and with a 
black, raised, semicircular line near the tail, the posterior edge of which is of a brilliant gold ; 
there is also a minute golden spot about the position of the centre of the enclosed wings. 
The golden markings, however, disappear, by the absorption of the fluids, as the enclosed insect 
approaches maturity." {Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) iii. p. 221.) 
Dr. H. C. Lang (' Butterflies of Europe,' pi. liv.) gives figures of the larva, 
pupa, and imago of D. chrysippus. In the figure of the caterpillar the pro- 
cesses, refeiTed to by Mrs. WoUaston as horns, appear to be rather soft fleshy 
spines, the two anterior pairs curving towards the head, and the posterior pair 
deflected backwards. 
