Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 59

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Zoological Illustrations Series II
William Swainson
Ser. 2. Vol II. Pl. 59. Marius Thetys.
1560519Zoological Illustrations Series II — Ser. 2. Vol II. Pl. 59. Marius Thetys.William Swainson

MARIUS Thetys.

Plate 59.
Plate 59.


MARIUS Thetys.

Order Lepidoptera. Sub-order Papilionides.

(Thrysanuriform Stirps.—Horsf.)

Generic Character. See Pl. 45.




Specific Character.

Wings horizontally lengthened, above bright rufous, transversely banded, with blackish stripes; beneath marbled with brown: lower part of the head, body, abdominal margin of the inferior icings, and feet, cream colour.

Papilio Petreus, Cramer, Pl. 87, D. E.

—— Thetys. Fabricius. Mant. Ins. 2, p.47. Eus. Syst. 3, 1, 77.

We frequently captured this Butterfly on the skirts of the Brazilian forests: its flight is bold and powerful, but it loves to bask on those leafy spots, where the sun, darting through a small opening of the dense foliage, illuminates a little space with sparkling brightness.

The poor and somewhat inaccurate figure of this insect in Cramer's work, is the only representation yet published. We have not had leisure to investigate its scientific relations, further than to ascertain its close affinity with Marius; of which group it appears on aberrant species.