Plate XIV. fig. 1. 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ.
GENUS. NYMPHALIS. _Latr. God._ Papilio (Nymphal. Phal.), _Linn. Drury_.
NYMPHALIS BOLINA. Alis dentatis, supra nigris, anticis maculis duabus,
posticis solitariâ magnâ, coeruleo-albis, subtus corticinis fascià albâ.
(Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Ph.) Bolina, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 781. _No._
188. _Cramer, pl._ 65. _fig._ E. F. _Herbst. Pap. tab._ 244. _fig._ 3. 4.
_Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 126. _No._ 384. _Latr. et God. (Enc.
Méth.)_ ix. 396. _No._ 157. (Nymphalis Bol.)
HABITAT: Bombay, Surinam, all the West Indian Islands, New York,
Carolina, Brazil, Cape of Good Hope, Malabar, Coromandel, China, Ceylon
(_Drury_). "In Indiæ orientalis Portulaca" (_Fabr._). Cayenne (_Enc.
Méth._).
_Upper Side._ Three white spots, one before, and two behind, on the head,
which, with the thorax and abdomen, is of a blackish brown. Wings
dentated, and of a dark chocolate colour, almost black; but when held
against the light, in a certain direction, display a blueish purple.
Anterior wings, in the middle, having a large oval, and another smaller
oblong white spot at the tips. Posterior wings with a large white spot,
larger than that in the superior ones. On the edges of all these spots,
the purple colour before-mentioned, is very conspicuous.
_Under Side._ Palpi white. The sides of the thorax spotted with white.
Anterior wings, next the body, of a reddish chocolate; but near the tips,
of a dirty olive. The large and small white spots appear here as on the
upper side; with three small angular white spots, close to the anterior
margin, near the middle. Along the external edge, is a row of white
crescents on a black border; over which are six small, round, faint,
white spots. Posterior wings, next the body, of a dirty olive; but toward
their external edges, more of a chocolate, with a broad central white bar
running entirely across the wing, with a small angular black mark, near
the anterior margin. Along the external edges, is a row of white
crescents; above which is a row of small white triangular spots, placed
two and two, between the crescents. Above this, six small round white
spots are placed in a row.
The flight of this species is said by Drury to be exceedingly quick and
rapid, so that it is very difficult to catch them, and hence they are
seldom obtained in fine condition, being generally secured in a faded state
when they are taken with more ease. The purple tint upon the upper side of
the wings is most intense, and when the insect flies in the sun, glancing
before the eye of the observer at a little distance (for it is by no means
a timid creature), the vivid purple, observes Drury, is not much less than
the electrical spark, and its changes depending on the degree of obliquity
which it presents to the sun, are scarcely less rapid.
{27}NYMPHALIS IPHICLA.
Plate XIV. fig. 3, 4.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.