Plate XV. fig. 1, 2.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Diurna. FAMILY: Nymphalidæ, _Swains_.
GENUS. NYMPHALIS, _Latr. God._ Papilio (Dan. Festivi), _Linn. Drury_.
NYMPHALIS MEDON. Alis dentatis, supra fuscis; anticis utrinque fasciâ
obliquâ luteâ, apice albo; posticis fasciâ violaceo-coerulescenti,
singulis subtùs punctis tribus. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 7 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph.) Erithonius, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 82.
_No._ 255. _Latr. & God. Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 390. _No._ 142. (Nymphalis
Er.)
Papilio (Dan. Festivi) Eupalus, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 48. _No._
148.
Papilio Harpalyce, _Cram. pl._ 145. _fig._ D. E.
Papilio (Equ. Achiv.) Medon, _Drury, App. vol._ 2. (Exclus. Syn. _Linn. &
Fabr._)
HABITAT: Sierra Leone.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ black, lighter at the tips. Head black. Thorax and
abdomen dark brown. Anterior wings dark red brown, tipped with white; but
next the shoulders of a purplish hue, with a dark yellow streak near the
tips, extending obliquely from the anterior towards the external edge.
Posterior wings also red brown; but towards the middle and shoulders of a
purplish blue, which they reflect more or less according to the position
they are held in.
_Under Side._ Palpi and breast yellow. Anterior wings olive brown, tipped
with white; but along the external edges of a hazel colour, and near the
shoulders having three round black spots on each. Posterior wings similar
to the anterior, being of a brown olive, variegated, and clouded, with
three small spots placed near the shoulders, as in the superior ones. All
the wings are a little dentated.
There are several African species closely allied to the present insect,
which was regarded by Drury as the Medon of Linnæus. I have followed the
Encyclopédie Méthodique in rejecting this reference; although it will be
seen that the Linnæan description of that insect, "alis supra nigris
primoribus fascia lutea apiceque albo; posticis disco coerulescentibus,"
does not disagree with the character of this insect.
According to Mr. Smeathman this species was taken at some distance inland
upon the continent of Africa; adding, "there are several Papiliones nearly
of this colour, that is to say, with the upper sides of the wings having a
changeable purple, and the under sides being inclinable to green, sometimes
with marks of the most beautiful crimson. The differences between them
arise so gradually, that he thinks them varieties of the same species,
some, apparently very different, being found coupled together. They are all
found congregating in the paths, and in the thick shade of a forest, ten or
a dozen in a circle round a little puddle or moist spot, and seem to like
the most gloomy places."
{30}HESPERIA IPHIS.
Plate XV. fig. 3, 4.