_Ochsenheimer._--Pap. Jason, _Linn._--Pap. Jasius, _Fabr._--Esper.
cater, and chrys.--Drury’s Insects, i. Pl. 1. fig. 1.--Pap. Jason.
_Cramer_, Pl. 339, A, B.--Nymph. Jasius, _Godart_, _Latreille_.
The genus _Charaxes_ was separated from _Nymphalis_ by Ochsenheimer
for the reception of this butterfly, which may be regarded as the most
beautiful inhabiting Europe. It varies in the expansion of the wings
from three to four inches; the surface a rich silky brown, changing
slightly with the light. Along the hinder margin of the primary wings
there is a broad fulvous band, more or less sinuated on the inner
side and narrowly edged with black externally, divided by eight
nervures, which are dark brown ; rather beyond the middle of the wing,
a transverse band of large fulvous continuous spots extends from the
costa to the inner margin, and is sometimes continued for a short way
on the secondary wings; the latter likewise with a posterior band,
formed of contiguous spots of a fulvous colour, more or less tinged
with green, preceded by a series of from five to seven bluish-green
spots, commencing at the anal angle; the margin itself black, as
well as the projecting angles, two of which are prolonged into
tails. Beneath, the anterior portion of all the wings is rust-red,
marked with spots and transverse stripes of olive-brown, encircled with
white; beyond this there is a white band of a satiny lustre, bordered
externally on the upper wings with dusky lunules; the space beyond
these lunules is fulvous, traversed by a band of slate-grey, with a
series of black spots, inclining to triangular, on the inner side of
it. Beyond the white band on the secondary wings there is a row of
ferruginous spots, succeeded by an olive-coloured space bearing a row
of violet-blue points; the posterior band similar to that on the upper
side. Head and thorax rust-brown; abdomen dull brown, with greyish
hairs; antennæ black, proboscis shining rust-red.
[Illustration: