PLATE III. Fig. 2.
_Linn. Fabr. Drury’s Ins._ Pl. xii. fig. 1; _Cramer_, Pl. 103, A, B;
_Boisd. Spec. gen._ p. 208.
_P. Ulysses_, _Perianthus_, _Bianor_, _Polyctor_ (Boisd.), _Blumer_
(Boisd.), _Crino_, _Palinurus_, _Paris_, and _Arjuna_, form a very
natural group of butterflies, distributed over the eastern parts of
the continent of Asia, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. The
great breadth of the wings and tail, combined with the general darkness
of their colours, give them a somewhat heavy appearance, but this is
often in some degree relieved by great richness of decoration. They are
occasionally ornamented with patches of very brilliant azure-blue, and
nearly all of them are sprinkled with shining points of golden-green,
making the surface appear as if powdered with gold-dust. The species
figured as an example is a native of China, and is often received in
collections from that country, although it does not appear to be very
common. In many cabinets a closely allied species stands for this,
which is so similar that the two may easily be confounded. The species
alluded to is _Pap. Arjuna_, a native of Java, accurately described
by Dr. Horsfield; but although now regarded as distinct, it may
ultimately prove to be a mere local variety. Godart confounds three
species, conceiving that _P. Bianor_ was the female of _P. Paris_, and
_P. Arjuna_ a variety.[30] The extension of the wings in _P. Paris_
is about four inches; the surface dark-brown, powdered with particles
of golden-green, which are condensed into two or three spots near the
extremity of the inner border of the upper wings: the under wings
have, towards the middle, a large patch of very brilliant azure-blue,
sinuated posteriorly, where it is on a line with a series of spots
formed by the union or condensation of the minute golden atoms; the
anal angle with an ocellated spot having a red iris surmounted by a
very narrow violet arc: tail black: under side brown, sprinkled with
grey particles, which are so condensed towards the apex of the upper
wings as to form a broad transverse band, interrupted by dark nervures:
under wings with a posterior row of seven ocelliform spots, dark in the
centre and having a yellowish-red iris, divided anteriorly by a slender
violet arc: body black, powdered with particles, in the same manner as
the wings.
The female differs only in the ground colour being a little darker, and
in having a transverse ray of condensed particles, which reaches from
the internal border nearly to the middle.
The caterpillar is probably very similar to that of _P. Arjuna_,
described by Dr. Horsfield.[31]