OCR Text |
Show 872 MR. H.J. ELWES ON THE BUTTERFLIES [Nov. 15, PAPILIO PROTENOR, Cr. Pap. Ex. i. t. 49. f. A, B (1779), which I have seen from Formosa, Hongkong, and is recorded by Felder from Ningpo. It is quoted, probably by mistake, by Mot-schulsky from Japan, where it is represented by P. DEMETRIUS, Cr. Pap. Ex. iv. t. 385 (1782). Common in Central Japan (Pryer, Jonas), N . China (Sommer), and occurring in the Fungwhan hills near Ningpo, whence specimens collected by Pryer are in Godman's and m y own collection, which agree very well with Japanese specimens. The larva, according to De l'Orza, feeds on orange-trees. P. MACILENTUS, Janson, Cist. Ent. ii. p. 158, t. v. fig. 1 (1877). The male of this resembles generally that of the next species in colour, but is easily distinguished by the long narrow wings and long tails. The female is larger, and seems rare. It occurs at Oyama {Jonas), and elsewhere in Japan. Forms of this or of the last species, probably not worthy of separation, are P. tractipennis, Butler, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, vii. p. 139, from Nikko (Mai-ies), and P. scavola, Oberthur, Et. Ent. iv. p. 37 (1879), from China, which is identified with P. macilentus by Mr. Butler. P. ALCINOUS, Klug, Neue Schmett. t. i. (1836). P. spathatus, Butler, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, vii. p. 139. Japan {Pryer, Jonas) ; Yesso (Maries). This species has the male black, with brown spots on the hind wings and tails beneath ; whilst the female is of a pale fawn, or light brown colour. It is common in Japan ; but I cannot see any good reason for distinguishing from it the species lately described by Mr. Butler, and I believe that a good series of specimens in this, as in other cases, would break down the characters on which he relies. The larva of P. alcinous, according to De l'Orza, feeds on Aristo-lochia. Another form which Felder, as I think, rightly says is probably a local variety of P. alcinous, is P. MENCIUS, Feld. Wien. ent. Mon. vi. p. 22 (1862). ? P. plutonius, Oberthur, Et. Ent. ii. p. 16, t. iii. fig. 2 (1876). Described by Felder from Ningpo. I have specimens from Shanghai {Pryer), and have seen it from Kiukiang (Maries). If P. plutonius, Ober., is the same, as I suspect, its range extends to North China, probably near Pekin {David). It differs from P. alcinous principally in having the spots pink instead of fawn, and in other characters which seem variable. The sexes, however, are much less distinct in colour than in P. alcinous, the males being paler and the females darker. P. ARISTOLOCHLE, Fabr. Syst. Ent. p. 443 (1775). Specimens from the Ningpo hills {Pryer) are smaller than usual. |