PLATE IV. Fig. 1.
_Linn. Fabr. Cramer_, Pl. 202, fig. A, B; _Merian’s Insec. Surin._ Pl.
43.
The two insects delineated on the adjoining plate exemplify a form
which prevails among a pretty extensive group of the genus _Papilio_,
and which is familiar to European entomologists as represented in
a very characteristic manner by the beautiful _P. Podalirius_. The
prolongation of the hinder wings into a long narrow tail is the most
striking feature, and has caused them to be termed swallow tails. The
ground colour is for the most part pale,--light yellow, or green,--and
the wings are marked with numerous transverse stripes of dark brown
or black. They are not confined to any particular country, but are
distributed over most regions of the globe, although the greatest
number are found in Brazil and other parts of America. _P. Protesilaus_
is one of the most common inhabiting the country just named. It expands
nearly four inches; surface pale white, almost transparent, tinged with
green at the base of the superior wings; the latter having seven narrow
transverse black bands commencing at the anterior margin, the innermost
five very short, the sixth descending to the internal angle, where
it unites with the seventh, which runs along the margin: inferior wings
black at the hinder extremity, that colour divided by two rows of large
lunules of the ground colour, the anal angle with a bright transverse
spot of carmine-red; tail very long and narrow, bordered with white,
and having before its base two or three greyish-blue spots, composed
of minute particles. On the under side the most remarkable differences
are, that the two interior bands are prolonged to the anal angle, where
they unite, and the outer one is bordered on one of its sides with a
stripe of carmine: body whitish, with a broad black stripe along the
back, another on the sides, and three along the belly.
[Illustration: