Genus PARTHENOS* 



Parthenot, lliibner, Verz. bok. Schtnott. p. 38 (IHlGj ; Moore, Lop. Ceyl. i. p. 1G <1B81|. 

 Muutrvt Boisd* Toy. Astrol. Lep, p. 126 (1832;; Weatw. Gea. Diurn. Lep. p. 205 (1850). 



Anterior wings Biibtrinngukr and much elongated j costal margin moderately arched ; apical augle 

 rounded, the outer margin very oblique and scalloped; the inner margin oblique at base and fi lightly concave 

 near centre. Costal nervure robust, extending about two-thirds the length of the wing ; first and second 

 subcostal nervules emitted before the end of cell, the first "a little beyond middle of cell, the second 

 a short distance before end of cell r the second becoming ampliated and convex towards its apex; third 

 emitted at about three-fourths from base, and also uuipliated and convex; fourth and fifth bifurcating 

 a short distance from base of third ; the fourth prominently angulated near its middle ; middle disco- 

 cellular nervule nearly straight, obliquely directed inwardly ; lower disco-cellular very slender, obliquely 

 concave, closing cell. Median nervules widely separated, the first slightly curved inwardly. Posterior 

 wings subquftdrangular and ovately elongate; costal margin nearly straight, obliquely rounded towards 

 apes, the outer margin broadly scalloped, and most prolonged at apices of lirst and second median 

 nervules; anal angle obliquely rounded. Precostal uervure forked anteriorly; costal nervure regularly 

 arched from base ; lower disco-cellular nervule more or less aborted, slender and indistinct. Body robust ; 

 abdomen small. Antenme nearly straight, terminated by a very slender and gradually formed club. 

 Palpi compressed and parallel. 



This is a rather small genus (if we tlo not consider all the local varieties as of specific 

 rank), which, found in Continental India, Ceylon, and the Andaman Islands, extends eastwards 

 through the Malayan Archipelago to the Papuan Regions, 



We have lately received our first knowledge of the transformations of a species of this 

 genus from the excellent drawings of a Ceylon species made by the Bros, tie Ahvis, and 

 published in Moore's * Lepidoptera of Ceylon/ * According to Mr. Hutchison, this butterfly 

 c 'sits on large leaves with wings spread." f Capt. Mortimer J. Slater met with l\ tjambmius 

 at Dacca, " in the deepest jungle/ 1 { 



1. Parthenos gambrisius, car. lilacinus. (Tab. XI., tig. 7 2.) 



Pttpilio tiamhrmus, Fabricius, Eat. Syst. ill, 1, p. 85, u. 204 (171)3). 



Mitwtra Gtimbrisius, Doubl. & Hew. (nee. Fabr.t, (itm. Diurn. Lep. t. 51, f. ii |lrJ50i. 



Vurtluwm liladnu*, Butl. Trans. Linn. Sou. ser. 2, Zool. vol. i. p. 544 (1877). 



Male and Female. Anterior wings above olivaceous ; cell containing a basal lateral black streak 

 curved il-nviiwanlri bofon tbe third median ln-rvinV, and i-.omuck'd with thv subcostal ncrvurt hy a curved 



* Although this species is not found in the Malay Peninsula, it is at least a very open question whether both it and tho 

 Midaccnn insect are not different varieties of the Indian P. gambrixiit*, and therefore the description of the larva smd pupa 

 as found in Ceylon may serve aa a guide in the Malay Peninsula :—" Larva cylindrical, paly purplish brown, darkvr bL-m-ath, 

 with dark blown longitudinal dorsal linos aud transverse while spotted linen; bead and anal Hcgmcut sspined, other segments 

 slightly hairy; third to twelfth segments armed with branched spines, which are lungest on third, fourth, eleventh aud twelfth 

 segments. Feeds on Modecea. Pupa pale pmplbdi brown, somewhat fusiform; head pointed ;<nd civil" t Lep. ( Vyb'ii, 

 i. p. 47). 



f Ibid. — This is an ai-urant habii in tin- S>j»ii>lutlLhe and other Hhopalocera, excepting many Hcaptridec, and is 

 paralleled in Tropical America by species of the genus Agerunia. 



I Horsf. k Moore, Cat. Lep. Mus, EJ.C. i, p. 148. 



