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This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Zoological Illustrations, Second Series, Volume 3Author: William SwainsonRelease date: October 29, 2013 [eBook #44058]Most recently updated: October 23, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Chris Curnow, Keith Edkins and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive)
Title: Zoological Illustrations, Second Series, Volume 3
Author: William Swainson
Author: William Swainson
Release date: October 29, 2013 [eBook #44058]Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Chris Curnow, Keith Edkins and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive)
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Zoological Illustrations,
OR
ORIGINAL FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS
OF
NEW, RARE, OR INTERESTING
ANIMALS,
SELECTED CHIEFLY FROM THE CLASSES OF
Ornithology, Entomology, and Conchology,
AND ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THEIR NATURAL AFFINITIES.
BY
WM. SWAINSON, ESQ., F.R.S., F.L.S.
ASSISTANT COMMISSARY GENERAL TOH.M.FORCES.CORRESPONDING MEMBEROF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PARIS; HONORARY MEMBERof the cambridge philosophic society, &c.
VOL. III.
SECOND SERIES.
London:
PRINTED BY W. J. SPARROW, 3, EDWARD STREET, HAMPSTEAD ROAD.
PUBLISHED BY BALDWIN & CRADOCK, PATERNOSTER ROW,
AND R. HAVELL, 77, OXFORD STREET.
1832.-1833.
TO
WILLIAM JOHN BURCHELL,Esq.,
THE AFRICAN TRAVELLER,
Whose discoveries have benefited every branch of natural science; whose knowledge is equal to their full elucidation; and whose talents,—unfostered by, and unknown to, his own Government,—are held in respect and estimation throughout the civilized world.
THIS THIRD VOLUME OF
Zoological Illustrations,
IS DEDICATED;
BY HIS ATTACHED AND AFFECTIONATE FRIEND,
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
In closing our second series ofZoological Illustrations, we cannot but express gratification at the terms in which they have been alluded to at home and abroad. It is hardly necessary to state that the scientific interest of the subjects described, and the attention bestowed upon the plates, have progressively increased, as the work has approached its termination. The contents of this series may now be divided into three equal portions, so that theBirds, theInsects, and theShells, will form distinct and uniform volumes, unconnected, except in the general title, with each other.
As complete sets of the first series have now become very scarce, new editions of the deficient parts are in rapid progress; and the whole will then be divided, as above, into three portions.
It is but justice to Mr. G. Bayfield,[1]that the author should here express his satisfaction at the skill and care with which he has executed the colouring of the plates, both of this work, and of every other in which his services have been engaged.
In answer to several correspondents who have requested to know what book we can recommend, as giving a general and popular introduction to thenaturalarrangement of animals, we are obliged to confess that amid countless volumes of anecdotes, compilations, and methods, no such work has ever been undertaken. With the intention of supplying this deficiency, we have devoted the greatest portion of the last five years to an Encyclopedia of Zoology; wherein the science will be placed under a new and striking light; no less instructive to the general reader, than interesting to the learned. In another year, we trust this work will be before the public. Tothatvolume we must consequently refer the readers ofthis, whenever they wish to understand the full scope and influence of those novelties in natural arrangment, which are but slightly glanced at in the following descriptions.
As more than usual care is necessary in the binding of these volumes, it may be as well to mention that we have particularly instructed Mr. Betts, of Compton Street, Brunswick Square, on this subject.
Tittenhanger Green,4th March, 1833.
Tittenhanger Green,
4th March, 1833.
Pl.92.
TRICHOGLOSSUSSwainsonii.Swainson's Green-lory.
Plate 92.
TRICHOGLOSSUSSwainsoni.
Swainson's, or Blue-bellied Lory.
Family Psittacidæ. Sub-family Psittacinæ. Genus Lorius.Swains.
Sub-Generic Character.
Billobsoletely notched;Taillengthened, cuneated, narrowed from the base, the two middle tail feathers conspicuously longest,Nob.
Billobsoletely notched;Taillengthened, cuneated, narrowed from the base, the two middle tail feathers conspicuously longest,Nob.
TypeLorius. (Trichoglossus.) Swainsoni. J. and S.
Specific Character.
Green: head, middle of the body and bands on the sides, azure-blue; throat, breast, and flanks, orange-crimson.Trichoglossus Swainsoni.Jardine and Selby. Ill. of Orn. pl. iii.Blue bellied Parrakeet.Brown's Ill. pl. 7, White's Voyage, pl. 4. p. 140.Le Perruche à tête bleue, male.Le Vaill. Perr. 1. pl. 24. fig. pulcherima.Perruche des Moluques.Buffon, Pl. Enl. No. 743?Trichoglossus hæmatodus. Lin. Tr. 15. p. 289. omitting Syn.
Green: head, middle of the body and bands on the sides, azure-blue; throat, breast, and flanks, orange-crimson.
Trichoglossus Swainsoni.Jardine and Selby. Ill. of Orn. pl. iii.
Blue bellied Parrakeet.Brown's Ill. pl. 7, White's Voyage, pl. 4. p. 140.
Le Perruche à tête bleue, male.Le Vaill. Perr. 1. pl. 24. fig. pulcherima.
Perruche des Moluques.Buffon, Pl. Enl. No. 743?
Trichoglossus hæmatodus. Lin. Tr. 15. p. 289. omitting Syn.
Large flocks of these resplendent Lorys enliven the woods of New Holland, clinging to the Eucalypti trees, and sucking the honey from the blossoms by their brush-shaped tongue. Mr. Caley, whose notes we now follow, says it a bird remarkable for docility and attachment to some people, although a perfect scold to others. When young they are caught by the natives, but from the loss of their favourite food seldom survive in confinement. An individual, kept by Mr. Caley, on being shewn the coloured drawing of a native plant, tried to suck the flowers, and it even made the same attempt with a piece of cotton furniture. Its scientific history we have already givenelsewhere.
We have received more than usual pleasure at seeing our name affixed to this charming bird, and in clearing up its history. (Ill. of Orn. vol. 3. p. iii.) As a child we well remember our unwearied delight at seeing its figure inWhite's Voyage. As a collector we have preserved a series of nearly twenty specimens, and as a naturalist our name is no longer excluded from the Ornithological Nomenclature of New Holland. It is indeed somewhat curious, that while we were giving information to one of the writers in theLin. Trans. upon the subjects of his paper, he should have studiously witheld from us the only public acknowledgement, for such assistance, it was in his power to make.
Pl.93.
PROTESILAUSLeilus.
Plate 93.
PROTESILAUSLeilus,
Protesilaus Butterfly.
Genus Amphrisius,Sw.Sub-genus Protesilaus,Sw.
Sub-generic Characters.
Wings trigonal, acute, yellow with black transverse bands; the inferior lengthened, narrowed, with two long acute tails; antennæ short, the club thick, slightly compressed, but solid, and convex all round; front very hairy;Larvacovered with sharp spines.Pupabraced, but suspended downwards.
Wings trigonal, acute, yellow with black transverse bands; the inferior lengthened, narrowed, with two long acute tails; antennæ short, the club thick, slightly compressed, but solid, and convex all round; front very hairy;Larvacovered with sharp spines.Pupabraced, but suspended downwards.
Type, Pap. Protesilaus.Auct.
Specific Character.
Wings straw-colour; the superior with four, short, black, costal bands towards the base, and two towards the exterior margin; the latter uniting at the posterior angle.Pap. Protesilaus.Lin. Fab. Ent. Sys. 3. pl. p. 23. Ency. Meth. p. 50. Merian Sur. pl. 43. Cramer, pl. 202. f. a. b.
Wings straw-colour; the superior with four, short, black, costal bands towards the base, and two towards the exterior margin; the latter uniting at the posterior angle.
Pap. Protesilaus.Lin. Fab. Ent. Sys. 3. pl. p. 23. Ency. Meth. p. 50. Merian Sur. pl. 43. Cramer, pl. 202. f. a. b.
From the resemblance which this insect bears to the rare British species, named by collectors the scarce Swallow-tail, (Papilio Podalirius,) it is generally called the Brazilian Swallow-tail. We advert to this circumstance, trivial as it may sound to scientific ears, first because it is one of the many proofs in which the nomenclature of the vulgar conveys greater information than that of the professor: and secondly, because these very names, in numberless instances, imply a perception of natural analogies, which, without the labour of philosophic research, suggest themselves to unscientific observers. In the present instance, these facts may be verified in the most unquestionable manner. According to our views,Protesilausnot only represents one of the primary groups of the Lepidoptera, but also typifies the Fissirostral birds, of which the swallows are the most pre-eminent.
Madam Merian's valuable work on the Insects of Surinam, has furnished us with a figure of the larva; which, unlike that of the European Swallow-tails, is covered with spines: the chrysalis also departs from the usual type of the family, in having the head directed downwards. These facts we have verified by an inspection of the original drawings, of M. Merian, now deposited in the British Museum. These are all important variations in structure, which can only be explained by the natural system.
Pl.94.
CRESSIDAHeliconides
Plate 94.
CRESSIDAHeliconides
Cressida Butterfly.
Sub-Fam. Papilionæ. Genus Papilio. Sub-Genus Cressida.Nobis.
Sub-Generic Character.
Wings diaphanous; posterior perpendicularly elongated, obtusely dentated or scolloped. Antenna stout, the club very thick.
Wings diaphanous; posterior perpendicularly elongated, obtusely dentated or scolloped. Antenna stout, the club very thick.
Types, Cressida Heliconides and Harmonides.Sw.
Specific Character.
Anterior wings diaphanous, with the base, and two opaque, costaltransversespots, black; posterior black, with a central white space, and a marginal row of crimson spots, brightest beneath.Papilio Cressida,Fab. Ent. Sys. 3. 1. p. 20. Don. Ill. of Ent. 3. pl. 12. f. 2. Ency. Meth. p. 76. No. 145.
Anterior wings diaphanous, with the base, and two opaque, costaltransversespots, black; posterior black, with a central white space, and a marginal row of crimson spots, brightest beneath.
Papilio Cressida,Fab. Ent. Sys. 3. 1. p. 20. Don. Ill. of Ent. 3. pl. 12. f. 2. Ency. Meth. p. 76. No. 145.
For a long time, the only museum in Europe which could boast of this butterfly, was that of Sir Joseph Banks; who found it in Van Deimans Land, during his celebrated scientific voyage with Captain Cook. Fabricius, the most eminent entomologist of that day, described the species from this specimen: which, with the whole of the Banksian Cabinet, was presented by its learned and munificent possessor to the Linnæan Society of London, where it still exists. The only published figure is that of Donovans, which is much too small, and is otherwise faulty. The species is still very rare in collections; our own, a fine pair, were received from Van Diemans Land.
Although unacquainted with the larva, and pupa state of this species, nature has stamped the perfect insect with the image of that group she intends it to represent. Its long, narrow, anterior wings, almost transparent, immediately reminds even the unpractised entomologist of the Heliconian butterflys; while the analysis of the genusPapilio, confirms this idea, by shewing thatCressidais the Heliconian type. We scarcely need remind the student of the natural system that if our theory be correct, this representation, under one form or other, will be found to pervade every group ofLepidoptera. In all such as we have yet investigated, this opinion has been fully verified.
Pl.95.
PAPILIOMemnon.
Plate 95.
PAPILIOMemnon,
Memnon Butterfly.
Fam. Papilionidæ. Sub-Fam. Papilionæ. Genus Papilio.—Sw.
(Typical form or Sub-genus.)
Sub-Generic Characters.
Wings without tails; the anterior horizontally lengthened, entire; the posterior margin concave; posterior wings perpendicularly lengthened, the margin rounded and scolloped; antennæ long.Larvasmooth;Pupabraced in an erect position.Sub-Types of form.1.Typical, Memnon. 2.Sub-typical, Erectheus. 3.Aberrant, Pammon, Drusius? Codrus.
Wings without tails; the anterior horizontally lengthened, entire; the posterior margin concave; posterior wings perpendicularly lengthened, the margin rounded and scolloped; antennæ long.Larvasmooth;Pupabraced in an erect position.
Sub-Types of form.1.Typical, Memnon. 2.Sub-typical, Erectheus. 3.Aberrant, Pammon, Drusius? Codrus.
Specific Character.
Wings black, rayed with blue-grey; inferior wings beneath with two rows of marginal black spots on a pale ground, and four red spots at the base.Papilio Memnon,Linn. Auct. Ency. Meth. 1. p. 29. No. 10. Cramer, pl. 91. f. c.
Wings black, rayed with blue-grey; inferior wings beneath with two rows of marginal black spots on a pale ground, and four red spots at the base.
Papilio Memnon,Linn. Auct. Ency. Meth. 1. p. 29. No. 10. Cramer, pl. 91. f. c.
Although of sombre colours, this butterfly is imposing in its size, and highly interesting. It is, in fact, that form which ispre-eminently typicalof the whole of the LatriellianPapilionidæ. It seems to be common throughout India and particularly so in Java, from whence we possess several specimens. Dr. Horsfield's elaborate work has furnished us with figures of the caterpillar and chrysalis.
In now first defining some of the natural groups of the modern GenusPapilio, it may be as well to state that we give the results of minute analysis, the details of which we hope to lay before the public on a future occasion. In regard to the nomenclature, we have adopted the following principles, suggested to us by a scientific friend of no ordinary authority, as tending to facilitate recollection, without altering well known specific names. Each genus or sub-genus will be named after that species which is its peculiar type; and the new specific name of this species will imply one of its supposed natural analogies. Thus the sub-genusProtesilaus, derives its name from the typical species, while the specific name, now proposed ofLeilus, points out the analogy of the group toUraniaFab. The sub-genus we now define, as being in our estimation, pre-eminently typical, retains the name of the genus. It seems also a geographic group, since all the species yet discovered belong to the old world.
Pl.96.
CARACOLLAacutissima.Two-toothed Disk-Snail.
Plate 96.
CARACOLLAacutissima,
Two-Toothed Disk Snail.
Class Mollusca. Order Phytophages.Swains.
Generic (?) Character.
Animalwith four tentaculæ, the lower pair very short;Shelldiscoid, greatly depressed; the spire but slightly raised above the body whorl; aperture large, oblique, angulated; the lower portion generally dentated; the margin thickened and reflected.
Animalwith four tentaculæ, the lower pair very short;Shelldiscoid, greatly depressed; the spire but slightly raised above the body whorl; aperture large, oblique, angulated; the lower portion generally dentated; the margin thickened and reflected.
Specific Character.
Shell imperforate, with the spiral whorls flattened obliquely, the body whorl acutely carinated, and convex beneath: outer lip reflected; with from 1 to 2 tuberculated teeth near the extremity.Caracolla acutissima.Lam. Syst. 6. p. 2. p. 95. Knorr. vol. 4 pl. 5. f. 2. 3.Encycl. Meth. pl. 462. f. 1. a. b.?Helicodonta.A. de Fèrrusac. pl. 58. f. 2.Helix caracolla.Guerin. Iconog. du Règ. Anim. Mol. pl. 6. f. 1.
Shell imperforate, with the spiral whorls flattened obliquely, the body whorl acutely carinated, and convex beneath: outer lip reflected; with from 1 to 2 tuberculated teeth near the extremity.
Caracolla acutissima.Lam. Syst. 6. p. 2. p. 95. Knorr. vol. 4 pl. 5. f. 2. 3.
Encycl. Meth. pl. 462. f. 1. a. b.?
Helicodonta.A. de Fèrrusac. pl. 58. f. 2.
Helix caracolla.Guerin. Iconog. du Règ. Anim. Mol. pl. 6. f. 1.
It is seldom we can deliniate more than the covering of testacious animals, particularly where the species are natives of tropical countries. In the present instance we owe this power to the singular fact of this snail having survived a voyage from Jamaica, and peered out upon an English sun. It is now near forty years ago since an intelligent correspondent of our honoured father sent him from Jamaica, a box of land shells: they were carefully packed in moist decayed wood, and enclosed the living animals. The season was summer and the voyage short; the box was immediately opened, and by placing the shells in luke-warm water, the animals of every one slowly emerged from their shells. Of their ultimate fate we know not: but that celebrated artist and entomologist, the late Mr. Lewin, then a guest in the house, executed highly finished drawings upon vellum of each species; and from one of these our present figures are faithfully copied. At the request of our friend Dr. Leach, a copy was also made by some one and transmitted to Baron de Fèrussac, for his great work upon Land shell, where it will be found engraved at pl. 58. fig. 2. M. Guerin has re-copied this latter figure, but as both are inaccurate, without any fault of these gentlemen, (who never saw the original drawing of Lewin) we have now represented it correctly.
Pl.97.
PRINIAfamiliarisIndian Wren warbler.
Plate 97.
PRINIAfamiliaris,
Indian Wren-warbler.
Family, Sylviadæ. Sub-Family, Sylvianæ.Sw.Genus,Prinia.Horsf.
Generic Character.
Bill rather lengthened, much compressed, entire; rictus smooth; wings rounded; tail broad and cuneate; feet large, strong.
Bill rather lengthened, much compressed, entire; rictus smooth; wings rounded; tail broad and cuneate; feet large, strong.
Specific Character.
Above olive brown, beneath yellowish; ears, throat, and tips of the greater and lesser wing-covers white; tail feathers tipt with dusky white, and margined beneath by a black bar.Prinia familiaris.Horsfield. Zool. Researches. Linn. Trans. 8. 165.
Above olive brown, beneath yellowish; ears, throat, and tips of the greater and lesser wing-covers white; tail feathers tipt with dusky white, and margined beneath by a black bar.
Prinia familiaris.Horsfield. Zool. Researches. Linn. Trans. 8. 165.
The sultry groves of India are not without birds which recall to the European the songsters of his own distant land. And although nature, in her boundless profusion, has so distributed her productions that even the little "Kitty Wren" may in vain be looked for beyond the confines of Europe, its representative in the East is no less neat, active, and familiar to the habitations of man. ThePrinia familiaris, observes Dr. Horsfield (whose politeness enables us to figure the bird), is abundant in many parts of Java, near villages and gardens, in the confines of which, among trees and shrubs, it builds its nest. Sprightly and active in all its motions, it sports among the branches in short and rapid flights, and has received its native name from its enlivening and pleasant notes. Our figure is the size of life, and to avoid a tedious description, all the details have been accurately measured.
We must refer the scientific Ornithologist, for our exposition of the natural affinities of this group, toNorthern Zoology, vol. 2, p. 200. It is unquestionably the Rasorial and Scansorial genus of the Sub-familySylvianæ, as there pointed out, and of whichOrthotomusis a sub-genus, or type of form.
Pl.98.
AMPHRISIUSNymphalides.
Plate 98.
AMPHRISIUSNympalides,
Amphrisius Butterfly.
Family Papilionidæ. Sub-Fam. Papilionæ. Genus. Amphrisius.Sw.(Typical Sub-Genus).
Sub-Generic Characters.
Wings without tails, the anterior externally dentated, the posterior short and rounded, the margin scolloped; Antennæ long. Larva covered with spine-like tubercles;Pupabraced in an inverted position.
Wings without tails, the anterior externally dentated, the posterior short and rounded, the margin scolloped; Antennæ long. Larva covered with spine-like tubercles;Pupabraced in an inverted position.
Specific Character.
Anterior wings black, with longitudinal paler rays; posterior wings yellow, with a black serrated border, and an internal row of black spots.Papilio Amphrisius.Godart. Ency. Meth. 1. p. 27, No. 7.Papilio Heliacon.Fab. Ent. Sys. 3. 1. p. 19. Don. Ind. Ins. pl. 19. f. 1.Papilio Amphrisius.—Horsf. Descrip. Cat. Part 1. pl. 4. f. 13.
Anterior wings black, with longitudinal paler rays; posterior wings yellow, with a black serrated border, and an internal row of black spots.
Papilio Amphrisius.Godart. Ency. Meth. 1. p. 27, No. 7.
Papilio Heliacon.Fab. Ent. Sys. 3. 1. p. 19. Don. Ind. Ins. pl. 19. f. 1.
Papilio Amphrisius.—Horsf. Descrip. Cat. Part 1. pl. 4. f. 13.
The Butterflies of which we consider the species now figured as the typical example, constitute one of the great natural divisions of the modern genusPapilio; and they are peculiarly distinguished in all their three stages of existence, namely in the caterpillar, the pupa, and in the winged state. Dr. Horsfield has enabled us to illustrate the two former, and we add a figure of the perfect butterfly from specimens in our own cabinet, collected in Java. It seems subject to much variation in point of colour, but we have strong suspicions that some of the varieties are distinct species. The richness of the black resembles Genoa velvet, while that of the yellow may be compared to glossy satin. All the larger species of the group are Oriental, but we suspect America is not without typical examples, although they are of a much smaller size. The species however, even with these additions, are so few, that the sub-types of the group cannot be accurately made out.
As this seems to be the pre-eminent type of the genus, we preserve to it the generic name.
Pl.99.
ACHATINELLA. Pl. 1.1, Pica. 2, Perversa. 3, Acuta
Plate 99.
ACHATINELLAPica,
The Bead Snails.
Class Mollusca. Order Phytophages.Lam. Sw.Genus ——?
Sub-Generic Character.
Shell oblong-conic, spiral, Columella with the base thickened and truncate, inner lip none; outer lip internally thickened; aperture without teeth.Nob.
Shell oblong-conic, spiral, Columella with the base thickened and truncate, inner lip none; outer lip internally thickened; aperture without teeth.Nob.
TypeMonodonta seminigraLam.
Specific Character.
Shell trochiform, black; apex and base of the pillar white.Monodonta semi-nigraLam.Achatina pica.Swains. Monog. in Brands Journal, April, 1828, p. 84.
Shell trochiform, black; apex and base of the pillar white.
Monodonta semi-nigraLam.
Achatina pica.Swains. Monog. in Brands Journal, April, 1828, p. 84.
Achatinella is a very peculiar group of land shells, found only in the Pacific Islands. They are all small, and so remarkably beautiful, that the natives use them for ornaments. It was under this form that seven different species came into our possession on the return of Captain, now Lord Byron, from his voyage to the South Seas. As the systematic conchologist will find them fully described in the Journal above quoted, we now only illustrate them by figures.
ACHATINELLAperversa,fig. 2.
Specific Character.
Shell reversed, sub-trochiform, fulvous brown with darker transverse bands and longitudinal lines; apex and suture white.Achatinella perversa.Swains. Monog. No. 2, p. 84.
Shell reversed, sub-trochiform, fulvous brown with darker transverse bands and longitudinal lines; apex and suture white.
Achatinella perversa.Swains. Monog. No. 2, p. 84.
Our figures of this elegant species are somewhat larger than nature.
ACHATINELLAAcuta, Fig. 3.
Specific Character.
Shell ovate-oblong, chesnut, with a marginal fulvous band; spire somewhat lengthened, acute, the tip black.Achatinella acutaSw. Monog. No. 3, p. 84.
Shell ovate-oblong, chesnut, with a marginal fulvous band; spire somewhat lengthened, acute, the tip black.
Achatinella acutaSw. Monog. No. 3, p. 84.
Shell somewhat pyriform, the spire being pointed, and considerably longer than the aperture: In these respects it differs considerably from the two preceding, but the great peculiarity of the twisted and truncated columella or pillar, sufficiently points it out as belonging to this group.
Pl.100.
MURICINÆ. Pl. 3.Murexeurystomus
Plate 100.
MUREX(Centronotus) eurystomus,
Wide mouthed Murex.
Family Cassidæ, Sub-family Muricinæ,Nob.Genus. MurexAuct.
Synopsis of the Sub-genera.
Specific Character.
Shell with from 7 to 8 simple foliated varices; body whorl with three brown bands; aperture effuse, tinged with rosey; umbelicus very large.Murex Saxatilis.Auct. Lamark. 7. p. 167. Martini. pl. 108. f. 1013.
Shell with from 7 to 8 simple foliated varices; body whorl with three brown bands; aperture effuse, tinged with rosey; umbelicus very large.
Murex Saxatilis.Auct. Lamark. 7. p. 167. Martini. pl. 108. f. 1013.
We feel some surprize that Lamark should have viewed this large and imposingMurexas one of the varieties ofSaxatilis,from which it is unquestionably distinct. It is by no means common, nor do we know its precise locality.
In directing the attention of the philosophic Zoologist to the above synopsis, we feel called upon to express our opinion on the unfortunate Denis De Montford, whose labours, however honoured in his own country, have neither been understood nor appreciated in this. We can say of him, what can be said of very few, that he had an intuitive perception of natural groups. And if we cannot place him on a par with his great rival Lamark, in the extent of his researches, or the polished accuracy of his names, we can safely affirm that in other respects, he is fully equal, either to him, or to any of his successors.
There are some extraordinary analogies between the natural types of this genus, and the series of vertebrated animals, which we cannot at present develope. Nor can our doubts on the Sub-typical form, which we rather think has not been discovered, effect any alteration of the series here pointed out.
Pl.101.
POLYDORUS Thoas.
Plate 101.
POLYDORUSThoas,
Polydorus Butterfly.
Sub-family Papilionæ. Genus Amphrisius. Sub-genus Polydorus.Sw.
Sub-Generic Character.
Anterior wings horizontally narrow and obtuse, posterior perpendicularly lengthened, and furnished with prominent spatulate tails;Larvacovered with fleshy tubercles;Pupabraced and suspended, but with the head downwards.
Types, Pap. Polydorus. Polystes. Romulus. &c.Auct.
Specific Character.
Anterior wings brownish black, with darker stripes between the nerves; posterior, black with a central five-parted spot of white; lunules round the margin, obscure above, bright crimson beneath.Papilio PolydorusLinn. Cramer. Pl. 128. f. a. b. Fab. Ent. Syst. 3. 1. p. 9. Ency. Meth. p. 72. No. 130. Horsf. Cat. pl. 3. f. 17. 17. a.(larva and pupa).
Anterior wings brownish black, with darker stripes between the nerves; posterior, black with a central five-parted spot of white; lunules round the margin, obscure above, bright crimson beneath.
Papilio PolydorusLinn. Cramer. Pl. 128. f. a. b. Fab. Ent. Syst. 3. 1. p. 9. Ency. Meth. p. 72. No. 130. Horsf. Cat. pl. 3. f. 17. 17. a.(larva and pupa).
Among the most remarkable of those laws which belong to the natural system, is that which assigns to every great division of our globe its peculiar races of animals: and these in numerous instances, are so marked, that a naturalist would no more expect to find such genera inhabiting a different continent, than a Physiologist would hope to discover a race of Hottentots among the Highlands of Scotland. It is under the tropical latitudes of the old world (and chiefly those of Asia), that nature has placed the group of butterflys which we now, for the first time, characterize. Distinguished, in the most beautiful manner, by their larva and pupa, they shew, even in the external appearance of the perfect insect, an unerring distinction, in the dark stripes between the nerves of the anterior wings. We have indeed, in the tropics of America, a race of black and crimson butterflys representing these of India; but they belong to a very different group; and are known at the first glance by their broader wings, totally destitute of the stripes just mentioned.
M. M. Latrielle and Godart, are evidently mistaken regarding the insect figured by Clerk, which they consider to be the female ofPolydorus; this error we have ascertained from fine specimens of both sexes, sent from Java and now in our possession. We have figured the male, and Dr. Horsfield has enabled us to add the Caterpillar and Chrysalis.
Pl.102.
PTILIOGONYScinereus.Male.
Plate 102.
PTILIOGONYScinereus,male.
Yellow-vented Short-foot.
Family Laniadæ. Sub-fam. Tyranninæ. GenusPtiliogonys.Nob.
Generic Character.
Zool. Journ. no. 10. p. 164.
Specific Character.
Light cinereous; flanks olive; under tail covers bright yellow; quills and tail glossy blue-black, the latter ornamented with a central snowy band; chin and vent white.For Synonyms—see pl.62.
Light cinereous; flanks olive; under tail covers bright yellow; quills and tail glossy blue-black, the latter ornamented with a central snowy band; chin and vent white.
For Synonyms—see pl.62.
On the sixty-second plate of these Illustrations, we figured the female of this elegant and highly interesting bird, from a specimen sent to us from Mexico, by the late Mr. W. Bullock. We are now enabled to add the male from a fine example, obligingly presented to us by John Taylor Esq. F. R. S. It was killed near Real del Monte; and these, we believe, are at present the only specimens that have reached England.
By viewing this as the type of the Scansorial group of the Tyrant-flycatchers, (Tyranninæ) every circumstance, even the most minute, regarding its structure and its colours will be explained. As representingBrachypus, (North. Zool. 2. 485.) and its analogies, it has the under tail covers richly coloured. As representingLeiothryx(Il. 490.) it has the same coloured cinereous and silky plumage: as a scansorial type, it has a conspicuous although anincumbentcrest, and a long ornamented tail. It is a Titmouse among the Tyrants, and is nearly as much of aCeblepyrisas of aTyrannus. Indeed, when we described the female, we thought it actually entered the circle of the former, but the laws of representation has set us right on this point.Phœnicornisis the first of theCeblepyrinæ, asPhiliogonysis the last of theTyranninæ. ThefemalesofPhœnicornisare clothed in the same slate coloured plumage, but, as being of afissirostraltype, their mouths are conspicuously bristled, while those ofPtiliogonysare quite smooth. Finally, the wings are those of aCeblepyris, but the tail that of aTyrannula!