Chapter 2

Pl.103.

PLECOCHEILUSundulatus.

Plate 103.

PLECOCHEILUSundulatus.

Waved Pupa-snail.

Family Pupadæ.Guilding.Genus Carychium.Muller.

Sub-Gen. Plecocheilus.Guild.

Sub-Generic Character.

Animalhermaphrodite, snail-like; the head bilobed, and bearing four tentaculæ, two of which are long and terminated by the eyes; mandibles greatly lunated, with a small transverse mouth and a triangular cutaneous plate; mantle perforated.Eggslarge, externally calcarious.Shelloval, ventricose, the two last spiral whorls very short, but elevated; aperture entire, elongated; outer lip thickened and reflected; inner lip thin, nearly obsolete; pillar with a strong compressed inflexed plate.Guilding.

Specific Character.

Shell irregularly and minutely corrugated, and longitudinally striated; marked beneath the olive epidermis with oblique, undulated, dark stripes.Carychium undulatum (1814).Leach. Zool. Mis. 1. pl. 35.Auricula caprella (1822).Lam. Sys. 6. 2. p. 140. Chemnitz pl. 176, f. 1701.-2.Plecocheilus undulatus.Guilding in Zool. Journ. 3. p. 532.

Shell irregularly and minutely corrugated, and longitudinally striated; marked beneath the olive epidermis with oblique, undulated, dark stripes.

Carychium undulatum (1814).Leach. Zool. Mis. 1. pl. 35.

Auricula caprella (1822).Lam. Sys. 6. 2. p. 140. Chemnitz pl. 176, f. 1701.-2.

Plecocheilus undulatus.Guilding in Zool. Journ. 3. p. 532.

The pleasure which our scientific brethren will receive from possessing this copy of Mr. Guilding's beautiful drawing, will be changed into regret on knowing that the gifted hand which originally traced it is now cold. A liver complaint, doubtless brought on by too much exposure to a tropical sun, terminated the mortal career, a few months ago, of this accomplished Zoologist and excellent man. The name of Guilding now belongs to posterity. His loss, and that too in the prime of life, leaves a blank in the ranks of science, which there is no one so qualified to fill; where can we look for profound and indefatigable research, matured knowledge, a ready pen and an exquisite pencil, all employed unceasingly to illustratefrom lifethe animals of tropical regions. The search, unfortunately, will be fruitless. May his spirit now be with that God whose minister he was, and whose works upon earth it was his purest delight to study.

This noble species was discovered by Mr. Guilding, in great numbers, upon the trunks and branches of trees in the forests of St Vincent: its eggs are hard like those of a bird, and the young shell resembles that of aSuccinea. InCarychiumthe eyes are at thebase, but here they are at thetipsof the tentaculæ.

Pl.104.

PROTESILAUSSwainsonius.

Plate 104.

PROTESILAUSSwainsonius,

Swainsonian Swallow-tail.

Sub-family Papilionæ. Genus Amphrisius. Sub-genus Protesilaus.Nob.

Sub-Generic Characters.

See pl.93.

Specific Character.

Wings pale straw-colour; anterior with a forked band near the black exterior margin, and another much shorter towards the middle, both black.Papilio Swainsonius.Langsdorff, MS.S.

Wings pale straw-colour; anterior with a forked band near the black exterior margin, and another much shorter towards the middle, both black.

Papilio Swainsonius.Langsdorff, MS.S.

Mus. Nost.

We have searched in vain for some account of this very distinct and handsome species, collected by our venerable and enthusiastic friend Dr Langsdorff, in the interior of Brazil; and transmitted to us some years ago, in remembrance of the many happy days we passed together in the enchanting scenery of that delightful region. We have not seen the species in any of the London collections, and we believe it altogether undescribed.

The Larva and pupa are of course unknown to us, but the whole structure of the perfect insect agrees so truly with that ofProtesilaus Lelius, that we have no doubt whatever of its belonging to the same sub-genus, and thus becoming an interesting addition to a group, capable of the most complete and diversified demonstration.

Pl.105.

PODALIRIUSPompilius.

Plate 105.

PODALIRIUSPompilius,

Pompilius, or Javanese Swallow-tail.

Sub-family Papilionæ. Genus Papilio. Sub-genus Podalirius.Nob.

Sub-Generic Character.

Wingstrigonal, acute, yellow, with black transverse bands, the inferior with two long narrow acute tails;Antennæshort, the club thick and solid at the base, but greatly compressed at the tip, where it is concave beneath;headsmall, front hairy;Larvasmooth;Pupabraced in an erect position.

TypePodalirius Europæus.Nobis.

Specific Character.

Wings above pale yellow, the anterior with five short, black, stripes across the areola; and two others, much longer and broader, close to the exterior margin: posterior wings without lunulate spots.Papilio Pompilius.Fab. Mantissa 2. p. 8. Ent. Syst. 3. 1. p. 25. Ency. Meth. 1. p. 49. Horsf. Cat. pl. 3. fig. 5. 5. a.(larva and pupa.)

Wings above pale yellow, the anterior with five short, black, stripes across the areola; and two others, much longer and broader, close to the exterior margin: posterior wings without lunulate spots.

Papilio Pompilius.Fab. Mantissa 2. p. 8. Ent. Syst. 3. 1. p. 25. Ency. Meth. 1. p. 49. Horsf. Cat. pl. 3. fig. 5. 5. a.(larva and pupa.)

We may term this the Javanese Swallow-tail, for in that and the other Indian islands it appears to be not uncommon. We are indebted to the elegantCatalogueabove quoted, for our figures of thelarvaandpupa; and to the rich collection of Mrs. Children for the examination of the perfect insect.

Entomologists will doubtless feel surprize that this and theProtesilauson our last plate, should be placed as distinct types in two different genera. We have not done this without long deliberation; but we cannot, in a work of this nature, enter into those details which would demonstrate these divisions to be truly natural, in the most rigid acceptation of the word. We desire not, however, that Entomologists should adapt our views,—at least for the present. We hope, indeed, that they will not, because experience has shewn, that until a theory has been fully explained, more injury than good results to science, from injudiciously adopting, and hastily applying, a system not understood. We only desire, in short, to record our views, that they may be comprehended hereafter. We consider this as the Thrysanuriform type of the sub-genus, and our EnglishPapilio Machaonof authors, as the Heliconian.—Tempus ducamus.

Pl.106.

LEPTOCIRCUSCurius.

Plate 106.

LEPTOCIRCUSCurius,

Clear-winged Butterfly.

Sub. Family Papilionæ. Genus Urania. Sub-genus Leptocircus,Nob.(Erycinian type).

Sub-Generic Characters.

Size and aspect of anErycina;Anterior wingssub-hyaline;posteriorgreatly lengthened, and terminating in two long tails;Head,thorax, andbodyvery thick;Anterior feet,palpi, andAntennæpapilioniform.

Specific Character.

Black; the exterior half of the superior wings hyaline, bordered with black, inner half with a green band, continued on the inferior wings, which are plicated, and edged externally with white.Papilio CuriusFab. Ent. Syst. 3. 1. 28. Don. Ind. Ins. pl. 47. f. 1. bad.

Black; the exterior half of the superior wings hyaline, bordered with black, inner half with a green band, continued on the inferior wings, which are plicated, and edged externally with white.

Papilio CuriusFab. Ent. Syst. 3. 1. 28. Don. Ind. Ins. pl. 47. f. 1. bad.

There are only two collections we believe in this country, which possess this rare and extraordinary butterfly, and it may be even doubted whether these specimens do not belong to distinct species. One is in the Banksian cabinet, now possessed by the Linnæan Society, the other in that of the lady of our friend J. G. Children Esq. Zoologist to the British Museum. We are told the species has been "made into a genus" by some continental methodist, but who, according to the disreputable and slovenly mode fast creepingamong us, gives no definition. We have elsewhere expressed our reasons for rejecting all such names (North. Zool. 2. pref. lx.), and we are thus pledged to do so upon every occasion.

Nature has so admirably disguised this insect in the external form of that tribe of butterflys which she intends it to represent, that it was only upon looking to its anatomical construction, that we discovered it was a type of the truePapilionæ, and not of theErycinæ. The construction of the anterior feet, of the head and palpi, and of the antennæ, all which are here represented, magnified, places this fact beyond doubt, and leaves us nothing to desire but a knowledge of its caterpillar and chrysalis, and of the direction of the wings when the species is at rest. We suspect that like those ofUrania, they are thendeflexed.

Pl.107.

TROGONMexicanus. f.Mexican Trogon. fem.

Plate 107.

TROGONMexicanus,

Mexican Trogon. female.

Tribe Fissirostris. Family Trogonidæ.See North Zool. 2, p. 326.

Generic Characters.

Bodythick.Billvery short, strong, thick, nearly triangular, but the sides compressed, surrounded by long, stiff, bristly feathers, the culmen arched from the base.Wingsvery convex, the quills graduated; tail very broad, feet short, weak, gressorial.

Sub-Genera.

Specific Character.

Female. Breast and upper plumage olive brown; body and under tail covers crimson; front, chin, and ears grey; wing covers lineated with undulate dusky lines; two middle tail feathers ferruginous brown, with black tips.

We have already given the general reader some account of the manners of these very singular birds, and we have said more upon them inNorth. Zool. Vol. 2. Having figured the male on our82ndplate, we now exhibit, in the female, that remarkable difference between the sexes, which pervades all the species. Our figure and specific character renders a detailed description of the plumage unnecessary; it should be observed, however, that the lateral tail feathers, in the female, are without those two black transverse bands on the inner web, towards the tip, which are so conspicuous in the male. There is another species from Mexico, which country seems to be the most northern range of these birds. We feel gratified at being able to characterize four typical forms of the genus; all of which, at the same time, are marked by geographic peculiarities.

Pl.108.

ACHATINELLA. Pl. 2.1, bulimoïdes.2, livida.

Plate 108.

ACHATINELLAbulimoïdes,

Thick-spired Achatinella—middle figures.

Generic Character.

See pl.99.

Specific Character.

Shell ovate-oblong, subventricose, whiteish, with chesnut bands; spire thickened, the tip pale brown.Achatinella bulimoïdes.Sw. in Brands Journ. Ap. 1828. p. 85.

Shell ovate-oblong, subventricose, whiteish, with chesnut bands; spire thickened, the tip pale brown.

Achatinella bulimoïdes.Sw. in Brands Journ. Ap. 1828. p. 85.

We continue our Illustrations of these pretty little land-shells, of which all the species, as we before remarked, are natives of the South Sea Islands, and very little known to collectors. The present is distinguished by the thickness of its spire, the apex being more suddenly pointed. We have represented two varieties in point of colour, but in both the suture is scarcely, if at all, margined by an indented grove.

ACHATINELLAlivida,

Livid Achatinella.

Specific Character.

Shell reversed, ovate, obtuse, livid brown or greyish; spire thickened; suture with a deep fulvous line.Achatinella livida.Brands Journ. Ap. 1828. p. 85.

Shell reversed, ovate, obtuse, livid brown or greyish; spire thickened; suture with a deep fulvous line.

Achatinella livida.Brands Journ. Ap. 1828. p. 85.

A small reversed species, unbanded, and scarcely exceeding half an inch in length. In form it perfectly resembles the green variety ofBulimus citrinus. The three specimens in our museum vary in colour from a light olive brown, to a livid purple which lies in longitudinal shades, and gradually changes, on the spiral whorls, to white; suture marked by a line of deep orange brown; aperture white, tinged with purple.

Pl.109.

MURICINÆ. Pl. 3.MUREX (PHYLLONOTUS)Imperialis.var. a.

Plate 109.

MUREX(Phyllonotus) Imperialis,

Imperial Murex. var. a.

Genus Murex. Sub-genus Phyllonotus.Nob.

Sub-Generic Characters.

See pl.100.

Specific Character.

See pl.67.

In a popular work like this, we wish to consult the taste of the amateur, no less than of the philosophic naturalist; and with this object we have delineated a beautiful variety, having the aperture rose colour, of theMurex imperialisalready figured at pl.67of our second volume. It was then in the possession of Messrs. Stuchbury, and was nearly the only one, among very many of the usual orange-mouthed specimens, which came to their hands.

We have already intimated that the series of types in this genus, (see pl.100) besides possessing innumerable analogies in the classMollusca, exhibits a most singular one with the series of vertebrated animals; four of which can be traced by comparing them with four of the classes of the vertebrated circle. Commencing withPhyllonotus, we may call them, from the hideous and repulsive aspect of many of the species, theReptiletype, as the name given to one (Murex scorpio), sufficiently intimates. In the tooth-like spines ofMurex tenuispinosuswe see some resemblance to the teeth of quadrupeds: theMurex haustellumhas been well compared to the head of a snipe, while in the fin shaped varices ofMurex pinnatus, we have a representation of thefish. If the analogy betweenCentronotusand theAmphibiacannot be traced, it is because the latter has so few forms; but the Hedgehogs, which represent theAmphibiain the circle of Quadrupeds, are again represented under the form of a shell, in the sub-genusCentronotus. These analogies, however remote are unquestionably natural,because they follow each other in a uniform series.

Pl.110.

MARIUS (PETREUS)Thetys.Larva & Pupa.

Plate 110.

MARIUS(Petreus) Thetys,

Thetys Butterfly.

Family Nymphalidæ. Sub-family Paphianæ. Genus Marius. Sub-genus Petreus. (Heliconian Type.)

Sub-Generic Character.

Superior wings long, horizontally lengthened; Larva naked, with 3, 4 fleshy filaments on the body.

Specific Character.

See pl.59.

The perfect insect, or butterfly, of this elegant species we have already figured at pl.59of our second volume: and that our illustration of a form so interesting may be complete, we have now delineated the caterpillar and the chrysalis, as given by Stoll; together with a sprig of theCashewtree upon which it feeds. Every entomologist, upon looking to the perfect insect, will immediately be struck with its resemblance to the long-winged Heliconian Butterflys, and to the genusEuplœa, which is the Erycinian type of that family. Now this resemblance, which hardly requires pointing out, is a perfectly natural analogy; and is confirmed in the most remarkable manner by the caterpillar, which puts on that peculiar form which distinguishesEuplœa. The species in short, in every stage, exemplifies the truth of that fundamental law of nature which we have elsewhere so fully illustrated, viz. "that everynaturalgroup, contains representations ofallothers in the same class," following each other precisely in the same series: thus establishing a truth which has long been suspected, but not before demonstrated, that the laws of variation are precisely the same in every group throughout the animal kingdom. The genus itself represents the Swallow-tailed types already figured (Podalirius,Protesilaus, andLeptocircus), but of the three remaining sub-genera ofMarius, we are as yet ignorant. It is, however, by this genus that the two sub-families ofPaphianæandHeliconinæare united; as it blends into the latter by means of the genusFabius, which we shall shortly illustrate.

Pl.111.

ZEONIAHeliconides.

Plate 111.

ZEONIAHeliconides,

Zeonia Butterfly.

Family Erycinidæ. Sub-family Erycinæ. Genus ——; Sub-genus Zeonia.Nob.

Sub-Generic Character.

Wings trigonal, hyaline, the posterior ending in long tails; Palpi very short, not projecting beyond the head; Antennæ hairy, with the club very small, but gradually thickening from the base.

Specific Character.

Wings hyaline; the margins, and a common central band black and opaque; inferior wings two-tailed, with a red stripe at the anal angle.

No method is more calculated to demonstrate the existence of that symbolical representation which reigns throughout nature, than that of bringing before the eye of the student a series of forms belonging to different families, but which aredisguised, under an outward appearance of general similitude; How few, even among professed entomologists, would suspect that the present butterfly, andLeptocircusCurius, pl.106, were of totally different families: looking to their general aspect, as size, form, and colour, we should even be tempted to place them in the same genus; On closer examination, however, we find that one is a genuinePapilio, and the other anErycina; That this fact may be placed beyond all doubt, we have given magnified details of both insects, which, from their great rarity, will be highly acceptable to the Entomologist.

The specimen here figured is the only one we met with in Brazil, nor have we seen the species in any other collection; Excepting the black bands and the crimson spots, all the wings are transparent; the under surface being similar to the upper. We possess the mutilated remains of a second species; but we know not to what natural genus they belong.

Fig. 1.Zeonia, wing. 2.Leptocircus, wing. 3.Zeonia; anterior foot, with the claw more enlarged; 4. head and palpi in profile; 5. Antennæ.

Pl.112.

LEPTOLOPHUSauricomis.Golden-eared Parrakeet.

Plate 112.

LEPTOLOPHUSauricomis,

Golden-eared Parrakeet.

Sub-family Psittacinæ. Genus Platycercus. Sub-genus Leptolophus. (The Rasorial type.)

Sub-Generic Character.

Bill distinctly toothed, culmen slightly carinated; nostrils thick, tumid, naked; head crested; wings very long, outer web of the quills not sinuated; tail very broad, cuneated, the two middle tail feathers conspicuously longest and pointed.

Specific Character.

Cinereous, wings with a longitudinal white stripe; ears orange; lateral tail feathers banded with yellow and black.Palæornis Novæ-Hollandiæ. New Holland Parrakeet.Lears Parrots, No 8.

Cinereous, wings with a longitudinal white stripe; ears orange; lateral tail feathers banded with yellow and black.

Palæornis Novæ-Hollandiæ. New Holland Parrakeet.Lears Parrots, No 8.

The discovery of this remarkable and highly interesting Australian species is due to Allen Cunningham, Esq. who, on an inland expedition ordered by our government, in 1827, discovered it in small flocks on the arid sandy plains between Lat. 29 and 28, 50. Long. 150¾ E. We must again express our public thanks to this intelligent and liberal naturalist for the ornithological specimens then collected. Among these were two skins of the bird in question; but as the mere addition of a new species to our already overwhelming list would be of little importance to the philosophy of the science, we have hitherto refrained from publishing it. In truth, the natural affinities of this extraordinary Cockatoo-Parrakeet called for a much deeper investigation of the whole family than it had yet received, nor are we ashamed to confess that nearly five years elapsed before we could partially accomplish this, with any thing like satisfactory results. But we regret not the delay, since it is obvious that the illustration of such an apparently anomalous form as this, is infinitely more useful to science than the specification,in a few lines, of a hundred new species, or even of as many new genera, unaccompanied by analytical or comparative results. The time, in fact, is now gone by, when such crude additions to ornithological nomenclature, possess any claim to permanent interest, or carry with them any authority: they encumber rather than advance science, by keeping up the already overwhelming stock of undigested materials. Mr. Lear has recently given beautiful figures of this species, but under the peculiarly inappropriate name ofPalæornis Novæ-hollandiæ. The genus isPlatycercus,allthe species of which are from New Holland, excepting those of the Fissirostral type. The exactness of our figure renders a detailed account of its plumage unessential.

Pl.113.

MUREX (Centronotus)radix.

Plate 113.

MUREX(Centronotus) radix,

Porcupine Murex.

Genus Murex. Sub-genus Centronotus.Nob.

Sub-Generic Character.

See pl.100.

Specific Character.

Shell ovate globuse,transverselygrooved; with numerous varices, armed with compressed, spine-like foliations: colour white; the spines, base, and inner lip black.Murex radix.Gm. 3527. Lam. Syst. 7. 168.

Shell ovate globuse,transverselygrooved; with numerous varices, armed with compressed, spine-like foliations: colour white; the spines, base, and inner lip black.

Murex radix.Gm. 3527. Lam. Syst. 7. 168.

Centronotusradixwas formerly a shell of excessive rarity, but many specimens have latterly been brought from Panama; one of these, obligingly lent to us by Mr. Cummin, we have here figured of the natural size.

We cannot too often place before the student those objects in nature which seem more especially to illustrate that wonderful system on which the whole has been created. In the infinite diversity which pervades the works of "Him who made us," two things have obviously been intended: one, the manifestation of His power in the creation of the individual: the other, an illustration of some important truth connected with the spiritual welfare of mankind. The first is manifest, and speaks to our senses: the second is emblematical, and calls for an exertion of those reasoning faculties with which the Creator, for such purposes, aided by those helps he has promised, has given to us. In accordance with this latter assumption, both divines and Naturalists concur in considering Nature as a book of Emblems, "where one thing represents another." That this theory, resting heretofore on general belief, is capable of mathematic definition, we have elsewhere largely demonstrated, (North. Zool.). And if, as regards one division of animated nature the theory is correct, it follows that it will be equally manifested inallother portions of the animal world, when they are sufficiently investigated. Hence it is that remote resemblances between objects, widely different in themselves, can be explained: hence the analogy which theGliresbears to the Hedgehogs, and to theCeblepyrinæ; and hence the resemblance between this shell and the Porcupines; an analogy the more singular, as it extends even to the black and white colour of the spines.

Pl.114.

JASIAAustralis.

Plate 114.

JASIAAustralis,

Australian Jasia-Butterfly.

Family Nymphalidæ. Sub-family Paphianæ. Genus, ——

Sub-Generic Character.

See pl.90.

Specific Character.

Wings above yellowish white, the outer half of the anterior black with a series of spots disposed in the shape of the letter Y; inferior wings with a black border, margined by cinereous, and an orange spot at the anal angle.

We believe the specimen from which our figures of this new and strikingly distinct butterfly were taken, is the only one which has yet been sent to Europe. It was captured by Mr. Cunningham, who accompanied Captain King, in his voyage to the North West coast of Australia, on the skirts of Careening Bay, Port Nelson, where the Ship Mermaid was hove down; and the officers had more leasure to attend to zoological pursuits. Mr. Cunningham remarked that it flew with great swiftness, in which respect it perfectly resembles the rest of the genusJasia, of which it is a typical example. The geographic range of this group is thus proved to extend from the South of Europe to Australia, but it is entirely unknown in the new world.

The family ofNymphalidæis the sub-typical group of the diurnal Lepidoptera, forming our tribePapiliones. In its own circle it therefore represents theFeræamong quadrupeds, theRaptoresamong birds, theApteraamong annulose animals, and theScolopendridæin the orderMyriapoda. The analogical representations resulting from this view of the subject are innumerable.

Pl.115.

TERACOLUSSub-fasciatus.

Plate 115.

TERACOLUSsub-fasciatus,

Burchells Yellow.

Family Papilionidæ. Sub-family Colianæ. Genus (?). TeracolusNob.

Generic Characters.

Antennæ with the club abrupt, and more or less compressed anterior wings trigonal, posterior rounded; Palpi as inColias, but the scales intermixed with hairs.

Specific Character.

Anterior wings pale yellow, with a terminal orange spot, margined externally with brown, and internally by a short black bar; areola with a black dot; posterior wings yellowish white, both beneath immaculate.

Mr. Burchell was the first who discovered this unpublished species in the interior of Southern Africa, and by his kindness we are enabled to illustrate it. His specimens, unfortunately, are not in the best condition, for he was obliged to preserve many of his insects in books; and these, having been among the number, may probably have had the antennæ more compressed than they were in nature. The form of this butterfly, nevertheless, is perfectly distinct fromColias, as may be seen by comparing the nerves of the anterior wings, here given in outline.

Not having completed our analysis of theColianæ, we cannot speak with any confidence on the rank or the station of this type; we are inclined to believe it is agenusbetween those of Colias and Terias, connecting this sub-family with theLicininæ. It may, however, be one of the sub-genera ofColias, in which case the genus, which it would then represent, is unknown. Fig. 1. represents the anterior wing ofTeracolus, 2, ofTerias, and 3, ofColias.

Pl.116.

HELEONAFenestrata.

Plate 116.

HELEONAfenestrata,

Australian Burnet.

Tribe Sphingides. Family Anthoceridæ. Sw. (Zyganidæ Auct.) Genus ——?

Sub-generic Characters.

Anterior Wings papilioniform, i. e. the exterior margin as long, or longer, than that of the posterior; inferior wings lengthened perpendicularly, but short and rounded; Antennæ pectinate in both sexes.

TypePhalæna militaris. Lin. Don.Ins. of China. pl. 43.

Specific Character.

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