3H2 



RHOPALQCERA MALA VAN A, 



furniture maker that he had been offered a large quantity at a low rate for tlie decoration of 

 screens f * 



Submenus PAPILIO. 



The principal diagnostic characters of Papilio have already been given (antia, p. 324), and 

 the characters by winch Ormthoptera differs in a subgeneric sense have also been described 

 (an tea, p. 325), so that it only remains to give the strucj^ral characters of the groups into 

 which Pu fulfil is divided. 



One great feature in Papilio is the extraordinary diversity of coloration found among its 

 species* Even in this fauna we have melanic types, like P, pammon, P* imoara, and others, 

 whilst in P. antiphafes we have a totally dissimilar and paler coloration. The whole question 

 as to the coloration of insects is still extremely obscure, though a new theory is sometimes 

 advanced* t 



In the tropics the Papilios form no inconsiderable portion of the principal feature of 

 butterfly existence. Dr. Hooker vividly describes their abundance and appearance near 

 Darjeeling. " They were seen everywhere, sailing majestically through the still hot air, or 

 fluttering from one scorching rock to another, and especially loving to settle on the damp sand 

 of the river-edge ; where they set by thousands, with erect wings, balancing themselves with 

 a rocky motion, as their heavy sails inclined themselves to one side or the other ; resembling a 

 crowded fleet of yachts on a calm day. Such an entomological display cannot be surpassed." J 

 In Angola, Mr. Muuteiro tVinud the finest Papilios, in contrast to the shade-loving habits of 

 some other genera, M only in the full sunshine, on the low bushes and flowering plants, 

 skirting, as with a broad belt, the woods or forest," § On the contrary, however, Mr. Bates, 

 when in South America, and in the rich rhopalocerous region of Parti, found M those species 

 of Papilio which are most characteristic of the country, so conspicuous in their velvety-black, 

 green, and rose-coloured hues never leave the shades of the forest," || Doubieday 



* It is surprising how many living creature* arc almost exterminated by man for his gratification in ornamentation, or to 

 satisfy kiin utilitarian propensities. Quite recently, in thiR country the robin was slaughu rnd tn provide a head-dress for ladies, 

 and at the present time the hat« and bonnets uf our female friends are frequently decorated with the skin of some tropical bird. 

 At iho Norfolk Broads the angler catches the bream for sport, and often cousignu them to the cottager to manure his garden ; 

 whilst at Skinner Island, we have recently h-arnt from the I lev. 1L A. M athe w. that multitudes of shearwaters are *' destroyed 

 by the farm servants* and the bodies of the birds ploughed into the ground as a dressing for wheat" ('Zoologist.' ser* H, vol, viii- 

 p. 485), Even man duos not tqiare his fellow in this civilizing process, iv) in the time of the great French Revolution, when, 

 as Carlyle tells us, the hair of the guillotined whs uned for tin- manufacture i>f tl jtrrruqufi* Wo«ri*s t " and quotes Moiitgoillard 

 thai ut Hcwlon '' there was a tannery of human skins; such of the guillotined as seouied worth Haying; of which perfectly good 

 wash-leather was made." 



♦ One of the most important suggestion* on this subject has recently been fornmbiied by Lord Walrdngham r 4 On some 

 probable causes of a tendency to melanic variation in Lopiduptera in high latitudes/' the annual Presidential Address to the 

 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, Doncaster, March 3, 1885). In discussing the probable explanation of the white covering of 

 many Arctic ami Alpine mammals and bird*, and the dark hue of many lepidnptoral species in the sami- habitats, be has 

 uecepted T.lie views >tet forth at least by Craven in 1H4»>, ns explanatory of the lirst phenomonon. which accounts for the same by 

 the well-known fact of white being a bad radiator of solar energy, ami white-covered animals thus being able to retain their heat 

 to the jrreatest advantage. The dark insects, on the contrary-, are considered tn have their advantage in being better able to 

 absorb the solar radiation. Mr. Meldola has well summarised these views in the following words: — " In the case of warm- 

 blooded animals the loss of heat by radiation is retarded by the white covering, whilst in insects, which develop but little heat 

 by respiration, it is of the utmost importance to utilize as much as possible of the anlar energy" (' Nature," vol, xxxi. p. 505), 

 An excellent rasttmr of Lord WalHinghiun's theory hj*s been given by Mr. ,T. Jenner Weir ('Entomologist/ vol. sviii. p. 81). 



This theory throws little light* however, on the coloration of tropical butterflies, a. question still requiring suggestions 

 for a solution. 



I ■ Himalayan Journals,' vol i. p. 148, § 1 Angola/ vol. i. \i, 171, 



II 1 The Naturalist on the Amazons, 1 3rd edit, p, 52, 



