Variation and Distribution in the Malayan Papilionidae

Leptocircus, Swainson

This small but interesting genus differs somewhat from Papilio in the neuration of the wings, but is best distinguished by the longitudinal fold and great elongation of the hind wings. The species frequent water, often settling on the edges of rills, or hovering over pools and rivulets in the sunshine. The few species known are all very closely allied, and might with equal propriety have been considered as local forms of one species. Three have been already described, and I have therefore thought it better to add one more, than to attempt to reduce those which have been generally accepted as species to a lower rank.

120. Leptocircus Meges, Zinken.

P. Meges, Zink. Beitr. Ins. Java, p. 161, tab. 15. f. 8. Leptocircus Curius, Sw. Zool. Ill. pl. 106; Boisd. Sp. Gén. pl. 7. f. 1, pl. 17. f. 3, p. 381.

Hab. Java, Malacca (Wall.).

121. Leptocircus Curtius, n. s.

Larger than L. Meges; outer black margin broader, and apical nervures thicker; bluish band much narrower, of equal width on both wings, straight, abruptly narrow where it crosses the discoidal cell of the fore wings, and rounded at the inner margin so as to form a small notch at the junction of the fore and hind wings.

Under side with the band bluish silvery; the three small bands on the anal margin differing from those on L. Curius and L. Meges, the first being transverse, and not produced obliquely to join the vertical band, the second small and nearly obsolete, the third at the anal angle transverse, very little curved, and sharply defined.

Body beneath and base of all the wings greenish ashy. Expanse of wings 1⁹⁄₁₀–2 inches. Length, head to tip of tail 2⁶⁄₁₀ inches.

Hab. Celebes (Wall.).

122. Leptocircus Decius, Felder.

L. Decius, Feld. Lep. Nov. Philipp. p. 13. L. Corion, G. R. Gray, List of Pap. in Brit. Mus.

Hab. Philippine Islands.

123. Leptocircus Curius, Fabricius.

L. Curius, Fab. Ent. Syst. iii. 1. p. 28; Doubleday, Zoologist, 1843, p. 111; Gen. of Diurnal Lep. pl. 4*. f. 1; Don. Ins. Ind. pl. 47. f. 1.

Hab. Java (Wall.), North India.

Note

In referring to the species described by Dr. Felder, I have quoted from papers which he has sent me, with distinct titles and separate paging, but which were all first published in the ‘Wiener Entomologischen Monatschrift,’ viz. “Lepidopterologische Fragmente” (quoted as “Lep. Fragm.”), published at intervals from June 1859 to August 1860, “Lepidoptera Nova Malayica” (quoted as “Lep. Nov. Mal.”), published in 1860, and “Lepidoptera Nova a Dr. Carolo Semper in insulis Philippinis collecta” (quoted as “Lep. Nov. Philipp.”), published in 1861. It is to be regretted that the titles and paging of these separate papers were not made to correspond with the original publication, so as to have made a more exact reference possible.

I have also quoted Zinken’s ‘Beitrag zur Insecten-Fauna von Java’ separated from the ‘Nova Acta Acad. Nat. Curios.’; but in this case the pages and the numbering of the plates have been preserved as in the original work.