9 
PLATE III. 
THE TRANSFORMATIONS OF PAPILIO HECTOR ILLUSTRATED. 
The genus Papilio, even in its most restricted modern state, 
comprises a very numerous assemblage of species—nearly 250 being 
known—differing greatly, not only in the imago, but also in the 
preparatory states. The larvae of many Indian species have the 
body smooth, with the two segments succeeding the head slender 
and retractile beneath the third segment, which is dilated and 
ocellated; thus resembling the caterpillars of some of the Sphin- 
gidae, (P. Memnon, Arjuna, Cresphontes, Polites, and Pammon). 
The larvae of others have the tail bifid (P. Agamemnon, Pompilius, 
as well as P. Demoleus, according to Fabricius). Others again 
have the body armed with fleshy tubercles, as in P. Polydorus and 
Hector, and P. (Ornitliopterus) Amphrisius ; whilst in P. dissimilis, 
these warts are replaced by recurved spines *. The chrysalides of 
the tuberculated larvae are remarkable for having the abdominal 
part of the body much curved, and armed with several strong 
dorsal prominences. 
Our knowledge of the transformations of the Indian Lepidoptera 
is almost exclusively derived from the researches of Dr. Horsfielcl 
in Java, and Major-General Hardwicke in India. The former of 
these authors has representated the larva and pupa of P. Polydorus 
in his Lepidoptera Javanica ; and the similarity of the preparatory 
states of P. Hector with that species is mentioned by Boisduval 
and De Haan. The figures illustrating the latter species (con¬ 
tained amongst Major-General Hardwicke s Zoological drawings in 
the library of the Linnsean Society) have not, however, been 
published f ; and as it is essential in determining the relations of the 
species of this intricate genus that every fact should be brought 
under notice, I have thought it not unnecessary to publish a copy of 
* Mr. Swainson lias refigured as the larva of Papilio Protesilaus, Linn., the caterpillar of 
one of the Nyrophalida; from Madame Merian, who gave it as the preparatory state of that 
Papilio, adding however, that the chrysalis is suspended by the tail; which is the case with no 
species of Papilionida;, and ought to have induced Mr. Swainson to hesitate in adopting it, as he 
has done, as an illustration of the merits of his “ Natural System. , 
f It is proper to observe, that Boisduval states that “ La chenille est figuree par Esper, mais 
probablement si inexaeteraent que nous n’osons pas la decr.re d’aprtSs cet auteur, Hist. Nat. 
Lepid. i., p. 270. 
