Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/90

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88
ORNITHOPTERA.

caterpillars of Papilio, it is furnished with two retractile tentacula; the body is large and thick, and bears eight rows of rather long fleshy prominences, of a conical shape. The chrysalis into which it is transformed is somewhat curved, having the head obtuse, and a few projecting points above the middle. It is suspended by the tail, and a transverse band, which, however, does not encompass the body, but is inserted on each side. (See Fig.)

This group is but of limited extent, but it comprehends some of the largest and most beautiful lepidoptera yet known to us. With one exception, which extends over a portion of the Indian continent, they are confined to the Mollucca, Philippine, and others of the numerous and extensive islands of the Indian Archipelago. The species figured, which is the most beautiful of the whole, and to which Linnaeus applies the epithet of august, has been long known and highly prized by collectors. It is named