Publ. 20. XI. 1913. 
PROTHOE. By H. Frtjhstoreer. 
713 
In venation Prothoe closely follows Charaxes, although in its outward appearance displaying only 
in one species the Charaxes character; the only, apparently constant, structural difference is the straight, at 
the extremity obliquely cut off precostal. But all the Prothoe species are easy to recognize by the shape of their 
hindwings which are never provided with tails, only at the third median nervule projecting in a most characte¬ 
ristic manner to form a blunt lobe. Among the species of Prothoe we may distinguish three types all of which 
show a rather gradual change in venation and in the shape of the wings as well as in the markings, being re¬ 
presented by P. calydonia Hew., P. franckii Godt. and P. australis Guer. Whereas in the first the Charaxes- 
type is very clearly retained, this grows less distinct in franckii, developing finally in P. australis and its allies 
quite a new form. This progression finds a good expression also in venation, f. i. the position of the 3. and 4. 
subcostal and the discocellulars. Thus in calydonia the former arise, exactly as in Charaxes, a short distance 
beyond the end of the cell, running very close together, whereas in franckii and mulderi (a form closely related 
to australis) they branch off far beyond the end of the cell and are farther apart. The lower discocellular is in 
calydonia only feebly curved (in Charaxes straight), but in franckii and mulderi forming an obtuse angle. The up¬ 
per discocellular in the hindwings is in the former pretty large, in the latter very small. The <3$ of P. franckii 
possess a scent apparatus in the shape of a stiff, pale brown hairpencil, resembling that of Agrias (but lacking 
the pouch at the inner side of the hind margin); in mulderi the hair found along the submedian is similarly 
stiff, whereas in calydonia it is soft as in Charaxes, apparently not exercising the functions of a scent-organ. 
Among the Prothoe it is P. calydonia that surpasses in the gorgeous colouring of the under surface all other 
butterflies; one may well name it the Agrias of tropical India, although the plain yellowish-white, on the hind- 
wings more bluish-white and black bordered upper surface but slightly resembles the wonderful forms of its South 
American allies. But the underside is so wonderfully and richly adorned by all possible colours in red, yellow, 
blue, green and black that it is not surpassed by any other species; at least of day-butterflies. Quite unique 
as to the colouring of the wings is P. franckii, displaying on the forewings above a broad glossy sky-blue 
band on a dark ground, but resembling in no manner calydonia beneath. Quite different again both in shape 
and colouring are P. australis and its allies, which in the feeble structure of their wings greatly deviate from 
Charaxes even in their outward appearance, displaying on the upperside both of fore and hindwings a large 
yellowish blotch on dark, blackish, sometimes also white ground, on the under surface in adidtion also pale 
dots and streaks (Dr. Schatz). The sexual organs are characterized by the limenitoid shape of the valve provi¬ 
ded in the middle of the extremity with a more heavily chitinized elongate spine of a peculiar, distally flat¬ 
tened cylindrical shape; tegumen with membranous scaphium. Penis short, moderately broad. The earlier 
stages are unknown. All the Prothoe inhabit solely the forests, each species cliffing in their manner of flight. 
With the exception of the Papuan forms, all are extremely shy, but are attracted by the sap oozing from wounded 
tress and by rotting fruit. When frightened, they generally seek out some high prominent branch or limb 
but constantly return to their old place where one may patiently await them. The typical species belong for 
the most part to the Papuan Region, calydonia and franckii being hitherto only found in the Macromalayan 
Archipelago, in Farther India and the Philippines. 
Two groups may be distinguished: 
Discocellular in the forewings strongly curved: Prothoe Hbn. 
Discocellular in the forewings almost straight: Agatasa Moore. 
Group A: Prothoe Hbn. 
P. regalis Btlr. A prominent species, representing possibly the Assam form of the Maeromalay-Pliilip- regalis. 
pine franckii, which it resembles above, but with the blue band more than twice as broad and entirely devoid of 
all whitish markings, only on the forewings two white preapical dots. Hindwings with the anal lobes shorter 
than in franckii, but with a second, sharply pointed, inner appendage. Under surface much darker than in 
borneensis (121 b), having on the hindwings deep green subterminal blotches and more prominent black spots. 
Very scarce, only 2 <$<$ being known, the type coming from Manipur, the other from Sadiya near Margherita 
(Tipper Assam). 
P. franckii is one of the most lovely day-butterflies of the Region where it is found. Upper surface franckii. 
with a blue transverse band, varying, according to the locality, in width and intensity, and mottled with more 
or less white. Forewings with three preapical spots, on the hindwings the costal border, especially of the 
with a distinct (Philippines) or blurred white costal border. Under surface with indescribably lovely colouring 
and markings. Forewings again with or without band, in the main land forms marked in the lower median 
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