I have discussed the position of this species in my catalogue of Satyridæ, pp. 189, 190; showing that its nearest ally is Neorina Lowii, a common Bornean species, but that it also has a slightly more distant relationship to Antirrhæa Philoctetes and Anchiphlebia Archæa, two common tropical American forms; the amount of affinity, as regards the first two of these species, may be seen on my plate, figs. 4 and 5; the resemblance to Anchiphlebia is less striking, and the affinity more doubtful; it has nothing to do with Cyllo.
That Butler should have so nearly pointed out the exact affinities of this insect from the simple study of Boisduval’s plate, is unquestionably due to his extended familiarity with butterflies, and especially with the forms of this subfamily; but it also shows the essential harmony between the markings of the under and upper surface of the wings of butterflies, notwithstanding their frequent great dissimilarity; for Butler compares this fossil with the recent forms on the assumption that the under surface of the wings is seen in Boisduval’s plate.
The actual condition of the fossil, for an opportunity of examining which I am indebted to the courtesy of Count Saporta, is this (see Pl. I, fig. 13): The thorax, hind legs and both pair of wings of the left side are preserved, almost completely; all the rest is lost. The thorax is viewed from above and somewhat on the left side; the hind coxæ seem to be almost torn away from their immediate connection with the trunk. The two hind legs are stretched out bent at the femoro-tibial articulation; the left leg lies above both the wings and is apparently attached throughout, although its base is covered a little by the crushed body; the right leg lies below both the wings and is apparently partially detached, though but slightly, from the coxæ; the tibio-tarsal articulation can be distinguished (Pl. I, fig. 11) but not the tarsal joints. The wings are bent over downward in a position the reverse of that of repose. The fore wing covers the hind wing as in nature, but to such an extent as to conceal the greater part of it; the guttered portion of the inner margin of the hind wings is almost fully expanded, but apparently has a fold next the submedian nervure. The fringe of the fore wing seems to be gone, but that of the hind wing is preserved nearly throughout. Head, fore and middle legs, wings of the right side and abdomen are wholly wanting.
The upper surface of the wings is, therefore, the part which attracts most attention. That it is the upper and not the under surface which is exposed to view is shown by the relation of the wings to each other (Pl. I, fig. 10), by their unquestionable attachment to the thorax, of which we certainly see only the upper portion with its smooth arched dome marked by the sutures which separate the portions which compose it; and by the design itself of the wings, which is such as pertains to the upper rather than to the under surface of butterflies of this group. These markings are most wonderfully preserved; and the careful and prolonged study I have given every part of the fossil has enabled me to separate, with a considerable degree of certitude, the markings which appertain to the fore wing and those which belong to the hind wing. Those of the latter are generally to be traced through the semi-diaphanous fore wing and are given in Pl. I, fig. 8. One is aided greatly in this investigation by following the lines and series of markings which extend over both the exposed and covered portions of the hind wing; and then by comparing the fainter and obscurer tints of the covered portion with equivalent marks on other parts of the stone covered by both the wings; in this way the markings of the hind wing may be separated from those of the front wing, but subject, certainly, to some degree of doubt. In the figure upon the plate (Pl. I, fig. 8) the portions to which the least degree of doubt attaches are the outer halves of the two wings. I am inclined to consider these as almost absolutely accurate. The parts on the other hand which are more likely to be inaccurate are the basal halves of the median interspaces of the fore wing and the contiguous portion of the medio-submedian interspace. Assuming, however, that the drawing faithfully represents the real markings of this extraordinarily preserved fossil, a detailed description of its features follows.
The basal portion of the fore wing (Pl. I, fig. 8) is very dark, and increases in intensity toward the border of the innermost light patch; the latter is bounded by a line running in a nearly straight course from the costal nervure, opposite the middle of the upper border of the cell, toward the middle of the apical half of the submedian nervure; but it extends slightly outward on reaching the lowest median nervule and just below this turns baseward and makes a large ovoid curve of an interspace’s diameter, returning to its course when it has nearly completed the circuit and reached the middle of the medio-submedian interspace; the outer limit of this large pale patch, which crosses the cell and extends nearly to the middle of the lower median interspace, nearly follows a line running from the upper extremity of the inner border to and along the middle median nervule. Beyond this the upper half of the wing, half-way to the apex, is nearly as dark as the basal part, excepting in a large light patch which crosses the lowest two subcostal and the subcosto-median interspaces, is broadest in the middle, but twice as broad at the upper as at the lower extremity, and rounded throughout excepting at the angular upper basal corner; its interior margin is sharply defined, and is nearly parallel to the interior border of the inner light patch, extending in a straight line from the subcostal nervure midway between the origin of the first and second superior nervules to the upper median nervule, about as far from its origin as it is from the base of the first median nervule; the exterior border is powdery, strongly convex and, starting from the subcostal nervure midway between the bases of the second and third superior nervules, joins the other border on the last median nervule; this patch is twice as long as broad. Extending from the next to the lowest subcostal nervule to the internal nervure, parallel to the outer border, is a broad indistinct pale band, broadening below, and on either side merging indefinitely into the darker parts of the wing, separated from the light patches by only a narrow belt of dark scales, which becomes narrower and fainter in the lower half of the wing; at its broadest the pale band is a little broader than an interspace, and it contains in its middle and at the middle of each interspace, as well as in the next to the lowest subcostal interspace, a series of large circular dark spots, of nearly or quite half the width of the interspaces in which they fall, often, and especially in the upper interspaces, enclosing a small black pupil; these spots are almost exactly parallel to the outer border, that in the lowest median interspace with its outer border at an interspace distance from it; with the exception of that in the lowest subcostal interspace, they are each surmounted interiorly by a much smaller circular light spot, the centre of which is near the circumference of the larger spot, so as to infringe upon it; with the exception of the uppermost, which is nearly as large as the spot on whose summit it is placed, the light spots are of nearly equal size and about one-third of an interspace in diameter; or if anything the two lower, seated on the largest spots, are smaller than the others; the wing must have been wrinkled between the nervules next the outer border, as shown by the dark lines running from the border to the centre of the dark spots. The outer edge and the apex of the inner are uniformly dusky and rather lighter than the other dark parts of the wing; the fringe is evidently lost.
The hind wing is very dark at the base, like the fore wing, nearly as far as the extreme tip of the cell; this dark area merges gradually into a lighter portion, which crosses the wing as a very broad equal band having its outer limit at a narrow, dark, regular belt, with ill defined outline, which crosses the wing subparallel to the general course of the outer border a little within the middle of the outer half of the wing; within this broad light band are two narrow transverse powdery streaks of dark scales, one extending from the extreme tip of the cell, and broadening a little in its course, running in a curve opening inward to the inner border; the other starting from the same point in an opposite direction, and passing in a sinuous course, with varying width, toward the middle of the basal two-thirds of the upper subcostal nervule, hardly separate from the outer limits of the dark base of the wing. The darkest part of the narrow band in the middle of the outer half of the wing has a regular curve and strikes the borders in the middle of their outer halves; there is a submarginal slender dark streak, separated by scarcely more than its own width from the outer border, becoming narrower toward the costal and inner borders, and especially towards the costal; it is broken at the upper median nervule, where the upper portion joins a second broader band, separated by a space nearly equal to itself from the submarginal band; this leaves a nearly equal light band in the outer part of the wing, broadest above and reaching from the costal border, almost to the inner; along the middle of this belt is a series of six round dark spots and ocelli, one in each of the interspaces excepting the costo-subcostal; the largest is in the lower median interspace, and is a spot nearly as broad as the interspace, deepening toward the centre to a black pupil; the next largest, in the upper median interspace, is an ocellus with a black pupil, immediately followed by a pale annulus, again surrounded by a dark ring of equal diameter, the whole a little more than half the width of the interspace; next larger are two spots of less intense depth of color, one in the upper subcostal, the other in the subcosto-median interspace, about one-third the width of the interspace, the upper deepening, the lower becoming paler at the centre; the spot in the lower subcostal and the medio-submedian interspace are equal and smallest, about one-fourth the width of the interspace, and consist only of rather faint, powdery marks, a little darker towards their centres. The fringe of this wing seems to be preserved and is short, nearly equal, dark, resembling a repetition of the submarginal streak.
Length of fore wing, 37mm.; breadth of fore wing, 20·5mm.; length of hind wing, 31·75mm.; length of tail, 4mm.; distance of the base of the second superior subcostal nervule of hind wing from the divarication of the costal and subcostal nervules, 5·55mm.; rows of scales in the subcostal region of the fore wings, ·075mm. apart; length of thorax, 5mm.; of hind femora, 4·6mm.; of hind tibiæ 4·8mm.; of hind tarsi, 4·9mm..
Tertiaries of Aix, Provence, France; collection of Count de Saporta.
LETHITES Scudder.
Satyrites Scudd. (nee Blanch.-Brullé), Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1871-72, 66.
The costal border of the fore wing (Pl. I, fig. 5) is gently and equably curved, the apex moderately acute but well rounded, the outer margin, except at its extremities, nearly straight, and the inner border straight or almost so; the outer border is a little shorter than the inner and about three-fifths the length of the costal margin.
The costal nervule terminates slightly beyond the middle of the costal margin, its basal two-fifths presenting a considerable and almost uniform expansion, which tapers rather rapidly at the tip, and reaches nearly to the middle of the upper border of the cell. The subcostal nervule is very slight on the basal half of the wing, closely connected with the posterior surface of the swollen portion of the costal nervure and only divaricating from that vein after the latter has lost its tumidity; it emits its first superior nervule at slightly more than three-fifths the distance from the tip of the bulbous portion of the costal nervure to the upper apex of the cell; its second at midway between the origin of the first and the tip of the cell; its third at midway between the upper apex of the cell and the origin of the fourth, which arises at about two-fifths the distance from the base of the third to the outer border of the wing. The first superior nervule terminates near the middle of the outer two-thirds of the costal border, the second midway between the apex of the first and third; the third terminates just above, and the fourth at or scarcely below, the tip of the wing. The first inferior subcostal nervule arises at a very short distance beyond the base of the second superior nervule, and curving rather strongly, terminates in the middle of the upper half of the outer border; the second inferior nervule is emitted from the first inferior as far beyond the base of the latter as that is beyond the base of the second superior nervule; at its origin it is directed inward as well as backward (forming the upper termination of the cell) and passes backward in a small, narrow and rather strongly curved bow, bent below more than above, beyond which it assumes a course nearly parallel to the first inferior nervule; just beyond the arcuate portion it is connected by a rather long, straight, oblique nervule, directed considerably outward as well as downward, to the origin of the upper median nervule. The median nervule is slightly enlarged at the base, and diminishes gradually and regularly in size to its first divarication, which is scarcely beyond the middle of the cell; the origin of its middle branch is slightly nearer the origin of the basal than of the terminal nervule; the latter strikes the middle of the outer border. The submedian nervure is straight and not swollen at the base. The cell is three times as long as broad, and scarcely more than half as long as the wing.
The article from which the above is quoted, as originally written, closes thus:
“The neuration of the fore wing does not seem to me to accord sufficiently with that of any known genus of Oreades to admit of its being classed with them. It undoubtedly has close affinities with the characters of the genus Debis (= Lethe Hübn.) as laid down by Westwood and Hewitson, if we exclude therefrom, as we should, the Papilio Portlandia of Fabricius. It is not a little interesting to notice that these authors have arranged this group in immediate proximity to the genus Cyllo (= Melanitis Fabr.), in which Dr. Boisduval placed the fossil species from Aix, named by him sepulta. Nor is it less interesting to find that in both genera all the living representatives (even including those discovered since the publication of the ‘Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera’) are natives of the East Indies; so that the fossil butterflies of Provence have their nearest living allies in the far East.”
Although differing from Neorina (Pl. II, fig. 8) very strikingly in the form of the wing and the swollen base of the costal nervure, this genus has some striking points of agreement with that in the neuration of the fore wing. The nervure closing the cell indeed is straight in Lethites and strongly curved in Neorina, but, as there, two of the superior subcostal nervules arise before the tip of the cell, and the other two are thrown off at about equal distances between the apex of the cell and of the wing; the vein closing the cell meets the median nervure in both cases as far beyond its second divarication as that is beyond the first; the shape and proportionate length of the cell is nearly the same in the two, but the costal nervure appears to be much shorter in Lethites.
With Lethe (Pl. II, fig. 6) and Debis (Pl. II. fig. 10) the fossil genus can better be compared, as far as the form of the wing, the dilated costal vein, and the position and direction of the straight vein closing the cell are concerned; but in both these genera only a single superior subcostal nervule is emitted before the apex of the cell; the form of the cell again shows rather closer affinity between Lethites and these genera, although the difference in these respects is but slight. It is by no means distantly related to Enodia, in which two subcostal nervules are emitted before the tip of the cell, but differs from it in the much greater and more abrupt swelling of the costal vein, and in the much greater distance beyond the second divarication of the median nervure at which the vein closing the cell meets this nervure. It even exhibits no small affinity to Cercyonis, and especially to those species in which there is little dilation of the median nervure; the costal nervure is swollen in precisely the same way, and the superior nervules of the subcostal nervure are much the same; but the form of the wing is strikingly different, and the lowest subcostal interspace much wider at the base, in comparison with the width of the base of the subcosto-median interspace, in Cercyonis than in Lethites; and this seems to be a character of considerable importance. It may be noted in this connection that the markings of the fossil must have closely resembled Cercyonis Pegala.
Its nearest ally among living European types would seem to be Maniola Hermione, in which the costal and median veins are about equally swollen. The neuration of Lethites agrees with this genus in much the same way as it does with Cercyonis, the comparative width of the interspaces beyond the cell being very different in the living genera from what it is in the fossil. In the form of the wing Maniola agrees much better with Lethites than Cercyonis does, but the costa is much more arched, and the cell is much the longer in Maniola; were there no obscure spot in the lower median interspace in the male of M. Hermione, the markings of the fossil would agree with it almost perfectly.
LETHITES REYNESII Scudder.
Plate I, figs. 2, 5.
Satyrites Reynesii Scudd., Rev. et. Mag. de Zool., 1871-72, 66-72, pl. vii (1872); Ib., Descr. Pap. Foss. 1-7, pl. (1872); Ib., Geol. Mag. ix, 532-33, pl. xiii, figs. 2, 3 (1872); Ib., Descr. Foss. Butt. 1-2, pl., figs. 2, 3 (1872); Brod., Distr. Corr. Foss. Ins. [Satyrites Reynesii], 8-9 (1873).
I give below the original of the first paper cited above, excepting the portion which was quoted under the genus.
In a recent examination of the rich collection of fossil insects from Aix, preserved in the Museum of the city of Marseilles, my attention was attracted by two little slabs containing the traces of a fossil butterfly. Although by no means so well preserved, nor so perfect as the remains of a butterfly from the same beds, described by Dr. Boisduval more than thirty years ago, a glance showed that it could not be referred to that species, since the costal nervure of the fore wings was greatly swollen. No such form having to my knowledge been described from these beds, Dr. Reynès, the accomplished director of the establishment, courteously placed the best specimen in my hands for closer study; and from it the following account and illustrations have been drawn. The second specimen is very imperfectly preserved, but since it exhibits in all its features an exact resemblance to similar parts in the better specimen it undoubtedly belongs to the same species.
The fossil (Pl. I, fig. 2) is a natural cast of a butterfly lying upon its side, the wings folded back to back, the legs extended as if hanging, the tongue uncurled and, with the antennæ, drooping in a direction similar to that of the legs. The right fore wing, which lies beneath, is pushed a little outward and also forward, even at its base, showing that the specimen must have been greatly macerated in very quiet water, before being covered by the deposits which have preserved its more essential features. The condition and position of all the parts also lead us to conjecture that it was swept into its final resting place by a gentle current, which left the slighter appendages lying in the direction of its final action.
It is evident that the object is a cast, for the veins of the wing which lie uppermost on the stone are impressed as we see them on the upper surface of the wings of living Oreades, while those of the wing lying beneath (veins which are plainly covered by the impressed nervures where the two come in contact) are in relief, as seen on the under surface of the same butterflies; that is, we have here the reverse of what would be the case, were we examining a living butterfly in this position.
The parts before us are: a poorly preserved body, vague indications of the terminal palpal joint, an antenna (probably a portion only), an unrolled tongue, the hinder pair of legs and portions of the other pairs, the greater part of the two front wings and fragments of the base of the hind wings. Of the latter, no border remains and only the base of a few of the nervules, which give scarcely any additional information as to the pterology of the insect. The only portion of the margin of the front wings which can be determined with certainty is the most essential part, the apex and the upper half of the outer border of the left wing, enough to show that its general contour was similar to that of the European Satyrids of the present epoch; but throughout the remainder all the nervules can be exactly traced. This being then the best preserved portion of the insect, we will consider its structure in detail, subsequently adding whatever can be gleaned from the examination of the other parts.[Q] [The account of the structural framework of the wing is given under the genus].
The basal two-thirds of the wing appears to have been more darkly clouded than the other portions, although in this fuscous area there is apparently a clearer space towards the upper, outer portion of the cell. There is also a distinct, darker, uniform and equal rounded spot in the middle of the outer two-thirds of the lowest subcostal interspace, nearly reaching the nervule on either side; in the specimen it appears to be broader than long by encroaching upon the next interspace in front, but this is evidently only apparent, the spots of the two wings (one of which I have stated to be a little in advance of the other) being blended. The object is so well preserved that one can see throughout the parallel series of minute punctures forming the points of insertion for the scales, outlines of the latter of which I have failed to discover. The wing is 28·5mm. long, the tip of the cell being distant 15mm. from the base of the wing; the costal nervure is inflated for a distance of 6·5mm., and the extreme width of this portion is 1mm.; the rows of punctures indicating the former insertion of the scales are ·12mm. apart.
Of the body itself nothing can be predicated, unless it be that the form of the abdomen and the appearance of its tip lead us to conjecture that the specimen was a female which had deposited most of her eggs, or in which they were but partially developed.
At the anterior upper extremity of the head is a dark prominence which seems to be the terminal joint of a palpus; it extends ·75mm. beyond the head and is of a nearly uniform width (·2mm.), scarcely tapering, with a rounded tip. The basal portion of an antenna, 5mm. long, is slender and apparently begins to increase slightly and very gradually in size, as in the genus Œneis Hübn. A finely impressed line, 7·25mm. long, appears to be the unrolled, though slightly curved tongue.
One of the hind femora projects 2·5mm. beyond the body; its tibia and tarsi are stretched in a single line, at an angle with it, but as the tip of what is apparently the other hind femur strikes them beyond the tip of their own femur, it is impossible to say whether they do not overlap, or are not overlaid by, the tibia and tarsi of the opposite side; their united length on the stone is 5·6mm.; but if both hind pairs are present, their probable length is 4·5mm.. There are also some remnants of the other legs, but in so fragmentary and confused a state that nothing can be determined from them, nor anything surmised of the length or structure of the front pair.
In the illustration of the fore wing given in the Revue et Magazin de Zoologie (fig. B), and copied in the Geological Magazine (fig. 3), the artist neglected to mark the position of the spot upon the wing. This is given in our Pl. I, fig. 5, which, as well as fig. 2, is taken from the originals of my former plate.
Tertiaries of Aix, Provence, France; Museum of the city of Marseilles.
NYMPHALES—NAJADES—PRÆFECTI.
EUGONIA Hübner.
Fore wings considerably more than half as long again as broad, the costal border scarcely bent at a little distance from the base, beyond that nearly straight to an equal distance from the tip, where it becomes more curved; outer border with the portion above the middle of the lower subcostal interspace very slightly concave, having a general direction at a very little less than a right angle with the central portion of the costal border, beyond suddenly receding at a little more than a right angle to the middle of the subcosto-median interspace, and continuing in a deep crenulate curve to just below the lower median nervure, where a prominent rounded tooth is found, and below which the border is excised, its angle rounded off; inner border very nearly straight, scarcely convex on the basal two-thirds. First superior subcostal nervule emitted a little beyond the middle of the outer two-thirds of the upper margin of the cell; the second a little more than half way from the origin of the first to the tip of the cell; the third midway between the tip of the cell and the origin of the fourth; the latter at three-fifths the distance from the tip of the cell to the apex of the wing; second inferior subcostal nervule arising scarcely one-third way down the cell; the cell considerably less than half as long as the wing, and three times as long as broad; middle of the basal curve of the last median nervule connected with the vein closing the cell.
The butterflies of this genus, which are generally above the average size, strongly resemble those of the genus Polygonia, in the form, color and design of the wings, but on the upper surface of the fore wings the costal markings are much heavier.
The above characters are wholly drawn from recent species of the genus.
EUGONIA ATAVA (Charpentier) Scudder.
Plate I, fig. 1, 3, 7.
Sphinx atava Charp., Acta Acad. Leop.-Carol., xx, 408-9, Tab. 22, fig. 4 (1843).
Vanessa attavina Heer, Insekt. Tert. Œning., ii, 177-79, Taf. 14, fig. 3 (1849); Ib., Nouv. Mem. Soc. Helv., xi, 177-79, Tab. 14, fig. 3 (1850); Gieb., Deutschl. Petref., 644 (1852); Ib., Faun. der Vorw., ii, 186 (1856).
Vanessa? atovina Kirb., Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lep., 185 (1872).
Nymphalis? atovina Kirb., Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lep., 648 (1872).
This was the second fossil butterfly known previously to the publication of Heer’s Tertiary insects. It was first described by Charpentier as a Sphinx, in the following terms:[R]
Ungemein interessant, und ich möchte sagen, ein Unicum ist der in oben bemerkter Figur abgebildete Schmetterlingsflügel. Dass es ein solcher sei, zeigt sogleich der erste Anblick, so wie sich bei näherer Ansicht herausstellt, dass es unbezweifelt der Oberflügel einer Sphinx Art sei. Er ist in seiner Form nicht gut gehalten, sondern vorn etwas eingerissen, seine Zeichnung ist aber bewundernswerth erhalten, und erinnert sehr an den fast im ganzen mittleren und nördlichen Europa vorkommenden Sphinx Tiliæ, doch ist er wohl specifisch von demselben verschieden. Die drei grossen dunklen Flecke, die sich von äussersten Vorderrande, fast bindenartig, über einen grossen Theil des Flügels ziehen, sind unstreitig die Reste ehemaliger Zeichnung und Färbung des lebenden Thieres.
The remainder of his remarks apply only to the rarity of fossil remains of Lepidoptera. The illustration was very poor and is reproduced on Pl. I, fig. 3. The next notice of it is by Heer, who also examined the original type, refigured [see Pl. I, figs. 1, 7] and redescribed it in the following manner, referring it to the genus Vanessa, and changing slightly the specific name:[S]
Alis anterioribus lividis, basi, fasciis maculisque nigris. Long 16⅞ Lin.
Radoboj. Ein Oberflügel, dessen Innenrand aber nicht erhalten ist.
Charpentier hat diesen Flügel einem Sphinx zugesprochen und ihn mit dem Sphinx Tiliæ L. verglichen; allein schon die ziemlich stark gebogene Randlinie (vena marginalis) spricht gegen Sphinx, bei welcher Gattung sie bis über zwei Drittel Flügellänge fast gerade verläuft und dann erst gegen die Spitze sich zubiegt; ebenso aber auch das Geäder. Bei Sphinx haben wir nämlich ein geschlossenes Mittelfeld und der Ast der vena externo-media, welcher neben der Flügelspitze ausläuft, verästelt sich nicht. In der Form des Flügels, im Geäder und Färbung stimmt unser Schmetterlingsflügel, wie mir scheint, am besten mit der Gattung Vanessa F. überein. Wir bemerken nemlich, gerade wie bei den Vanessen, zunächst eine starke vena scapularis, welche weit vorn in die v. marginalis ausläuft; eine schwächere vena externo-media, welche noch näher der Flügelspitze mit dem Rande sich verbindet; diese bildet nach Innen zunächst einen Ast[T], der flügelspitzwärts in zwei weitere Aeste sich spaltet; der äussere von diesen läuft zur Flügelspitze, der innere aber trennt sich nochmals in zwei Gabeläste, welche zum Hinterrande verlaufen und von denen jeder in einen schwachen, stumpfen Zahn des Flügelrandes ausgeht. Auf diesen Gabelast folgen weiter nach Innen zwei Längsadern, welche am Grunde sich wahrscheinlich verbinden, und in die vena externo-media eingefügt sind. Diese beiden Adern (es sind diess die fünfte und sechste Ader von Herrich Schaeffer) gehen bei [178] den Vanessen getrennt bis zur v. externo-media hinauf und divergiren gleich, wie sie aus dieser heraustreten; wahrscheinlich ist diess beim fossilen Thiere auch der Fall, jedoch sieht man nur die Einmündung des äusseren Astes in die vena externo-media, indem der innere am Grunde ganz verwischt ist, wie denn überhaupt die Adern in Folge des starken Druckes, dem der Flügel unterworfen war, äusserst schwach hervortreten und nur mit Mühe zu erkennen sind. Die vena interno-media verläuft wie bei den Vanessen, sie sendet nämlich nach dem Hinterrande zwei Aeste aus, so dass im Ganzen drei Längsadern zuletzt in parallelen Linien nach dem Rande verlaufen. Die vena analis ist nur am Grunde angedeutet, indem der Innenrand grossentheils zerstört ist. Das Mittelfeld ist offen, wenigstens ist keine Spur eines Verbindungsastes zwischen v. externo-und interno-media zu finden. In allen diesen Punkten stimmt also das fossile Thier mit den Vanessen überein. Ebenso stimmt ferner der zackige Hinterrand, indem wir, wie schon bemerkt, an der Ausmündung des äusseren Gabelastes der v. externo-media kleine Zacken bemerken, wobei freilich zu bedauern, dass von dort an der Flügel zerrissen ist, so dass die Randbildung nur an jene kleinen Stelle bestimmt werden kann. In der Färbung zeigt der Flügel viel Uebereinstimmendes mit demjenigen der Vanessa Cardui L. Wir bemerken nemlich zunächst dem Grunde eine dunklere Stelle, welche fast bis zu ⅓ Flügellänge hinausreicht; dieser dunklere Flügelgrund ist indessen wieder in der Mitte durch einige unregelmässige hellere Stellen unterbrochen. Auf diese dunkle Stelle folgt ein helles Querband von 1¾ Linien Breite, welches aber nicht bis zum Innenrande reicht, wenigstens ist an der Stelle, wo die v. interno-media den ersten Ast aussendet, wieder ein, freilich sehr undeutlich umgrenzter, dunkler Fleck; auf dieses helle Querband folgt wieder ein 3 Linien breites dunkles Querband, welches mit mittleren schwarzen Querband der V. cardui entspricht; bemerkenswerth ist, dass dieses bei der V. attavina von der Nahtseite her ebenfalls durch einen helleren Flecken getheilt wird, welcher helle Flecken nicht his zum Aussenrand hinausreicht. Auf dieses dunkle Querband folgt wieder ein helles Band von 1¼ Lin. Breite, und darauf wieder ein dunkler, 3¼ Lin. breiter Flecken, der aber sehr kurz ist, indem weiter nach Innen an jener Stelle der Flügel wieder hellgelb braun gefärbt ist; auf diesen dunklen Flecken folgt wieder ein kleiner heller Flecken; weiter flügelspitzwärts ist der Flügel dunkelbraun gefärbt, welche Farbe allmählig heller wird, so dass der Flügelrand wieder hellbraun wird; die Zackenspitzen dagegen sind schwarz.
In der Färbung des Oberflügels stimmt also der fossile Schmetterling am meisten mit Vanessa Cardui L. überein, dennoch kann er nicht als analoge Art betrachtet werden, denn fürs erste war er beträchtlich grösser [179], fürs zweite ist die Randader stärker gebogen, zeigt eine regelmässige Bogenlinie, während sie bei Vanessa Cardui in mehr gerader Linie verläuft.
The only subsequent notice of this insect, not directly copied or abbreviated from the above is by Butler, who remarks[U]; “I think it just possible, from the great resemblance which V. Attavina of Heer bears to the under surface of J.[unonia] Hedonia, that it is the reverse of J. Pluto.”
I have been unable to see this fossil, or even to find out where it is preserved. Charpentier states that he received it for description from Dr. Unger through Professor Göppert of Breslau. Heer makes no mention of the quarter whence he received it. Herr Brunner von Wattenwyl searched for it in vain in the Vienna Museums.
All that can be said, therefore, must be drawn from the illustrations and remarks of Professor Heer. These seem to me to leave no doubt that the insect must be placed in Eugonia, and that it was a little larger than the European vau-album or our own j-album. A comparison of the neuration of Eugonia j-album (Pl. I, fig. 4) with that of Heer’s figures of the fossil (reproduced on Pl. I, figs. 1, 7) shows that the last divarication of the subcostal nervure of the fore wing, and the points of termination of the last two superior nervules and of the subcostal nervure itself are essentially the same in both; while the position of all the markings on the fossil, allowing for its natural defects, are quite the same in position, direction and intensity, as in E. j-album (Pl. I, fig. 6). The same may be said of the form of the wing, as far as it can be seen, but as this is true only of the costal margin, and the merest fragment of the outer border, it cannot be considered to have much weight in itself; still, taken in connection with all the other features, which agree almost wholly with those of Eugonia, and but partially with its near ally Vanessa, to which Heer compares it, we must refer the fossil to Eugonia, at least until a new examination of the fossil shall give us further facts as a basis for an opinion. This is the position dubiously assigned to it by Kirby, in his Synonymic Catalogue.
Tertiaries of Radoboj, Croatia.
PAPILIONIDÆ—DANAI—FUGACIA.
MYLOTHRITES Scudder.
Of the form of the fore wing (Pl. II, figs. 7, 17) we can say but little, from the imperfect nature of the fossil; the costal margin, however, is very regularly and rather strongly arched, and the direction of the middle portion of the outer border (probably at a right angle, or at a little less than a right angle, with the apical portion of the costal margin, and but slightly convex) leads us to presume that the apex was rather pointed, though not falciform.
The neuration of the same wing (Pl. II, fig. 7) is very similar to that of Mylothris.[V] The costal nervure terminates at about five-sevenths the distance from the base of the costal margin to its tip; the subcostal nervure emits two branches before the cell, the second probably close to the apex of the cell, the limits of which are not given in the drawing prepared for me, but which could probably be made out by a sufficiently careful examination of the original; a third superior nervule is emitted from the subcostal nervure at less than half the distance from the origin of the second to the outer border, and the emission of the inferior nervule, if it could be traced, would mark the termination of the cell; the median nervure is of course three-branched and scarcely curves upward at all to meet the subcostal.
The design of the upper surface of the fore wing (Pl. II, fig. 17) is simple, consisting only of a broad marginal pale band on a dark ground, enclosing small dark spots in the middle of the interspaces.
This fossil was placed by Heer among the Nymphales, and referred, like the preceding, to Vanessa. Heer lays stress on the non-closure of the cell, but it appears questionable whether this is not simply the result of the defective preservation of the fossil. Edwards has since referred it to Argynnis, on account of the general aspect of its markings, and Butler, on the same ground, to Junonia. But the new drawing of the fossil obtained for me through the kindness of my friend Herr Brunner von Wattenwyl, and by him carefully compared with the original, leave little doubt that it is a Pierid, and belongs in the neighborhood of such genera as Mylothris and Hebomoia. The latter genus it closely resembles in the form of the wings. Further comparisons are presented under the species.
MYLOTHRITES PLUTO (Heer) Scudder.
Plate II, figs. 2, 7, 17 (15?).
Vanessa Pluto Heer, Insekt. Tert. Œning., ii, 179-82, Taf. 14, fig. 4, 5 (?) (1849); Ib., Nouv. Mem. Soc. Helv., xi, 179-82, Tab. 14, figs. 4, 5 (?) (1850); Gieb., Deutschl. Petref. 644 (1852); Ib., Faun. der Vorw., 186-7 (1856); Pict., Traite de Palæont., ii, 393, pl. 40, fig. 21 (1854); Lyell, Elem. Geol., 6th Ed., 243, fig. 179 (1865).
Argynnis Pluto Edw., Butt. N. Amer., I, Argynnis I, fig. (1868); Kirb., Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lep., 155 (1871).
Junonia? Pluto Butl., Lep. Exot., 127-28, pl. 48, fig. 7 (1873); Ib., Geol. Mag., x, 3-4, pl. 1, fig. 7 (1873).
Heer’s description of this insect is as follows:[W]—
Alis griseo-nigris, anterioribus margine posteriore ocellis sex pallidis.
Länge des Vorderflügels wahrscheinlich 15 Lin; er ist erhalten bis zu 14¼ Lin; grösste Breite 8¾ Lin.
Radoboj. Ein ausgezeichnet schönes Exemplar in dem k. k. Hofkabinet zu Wien; leider fehlt aber der Kopf, der Hinterleib, der grösste Theil der Hinterflügel und die Spitze der Vorderflügel [Pl. II, fig. 2].
Der Brustkasten ist länglich oval, in der Mitte zwei Linien dick, an der Oberseite von ein paar Streifen durchzogen. Der Oberflügel ist am Grunde schmal, nach dem Hinterrande hin aber stark verbreitert und erreicht daselbst seine grösste Breite. Die Aussenrandlinie (v. marginalis) ist sehr stark gebogen, und zwar bildet sie vom Grunde zur Spitze eine regelmässige, starke Bogenlinie. Die Schulterader ist am Grunde stark ¾ Lin. vom Rande abstehend und läuft ausserhalb der Flügelmitte in denselben; die vena externo-media ist ihr sehr genähert und nur mit Mühe zu unterscheiden, sie mündet noch näher flügelspitzwärts in die Randader. Sie sendet zunächst einen einfachen Ast ab, der mit dem Hauptstamm parallel läuft, ihm sehr genähert ist und noch näher der Flügelspitze in die Randader mündet; der zweite Ast spaltet sich bald wieder in zwei Aeste, von denen der äussere vor der Flügelspitze in die Randader auslauft, der innere theilt sich nochmals in zwei Gabeläste, welche ohne Zweifel innerhalb der Flügelspitze ausmünden; ganz nahe, wo der zweite Hauptast der vena externo-media entspringt, läuft der dritte aus, der einfach und nach dem Hinterrande geht; auf diesen folgt ein vierter Ast, dessen Insertion aber nicht zu sehen; es scheint, dass er auf der Flügelfläche entspringe.—Die vena interno-media ist ebenfalls stark ausgesprochen; sie sendet nach Innen zwei starke, aber einfach bleibende Aeste aus, so dass sie im Ganzen in drei parallelen Adern in den Hinterrand einmündet. Das Mittelfeld ist verhältnissmässig ziemlich klein und nicht geschlossen, indem kein Querast die beiden Mitteladern verbindet. Die vena analis ist einfach und läuft nahe dem Nahtrande herunter. In den Feldern zwischen je zwei Längsrippen sieht man eine schwache Längslinie, welche vom Flügelrande bis zum Augenpunkt läuft; sie stellt eine schwache Furche oder Falte dar, die dort im Flügel sich befunden hat. Der Hinterrand ist leider nicht ganz erhalten, namentlich fehlt die Flügelspitze, de-[180] ren Form zur Bestimmung der Gattung so wichtig wäre; es ist daher nicht zu ermitteln, ob diese ganzrandig oder gezackt war. Der Hinterrand verläuft in einer schwachen Wellenlinie, in der ganz schwache, stumpfe Kerbzähne an der Ausmündung der Längsadern liegen.
Die Farbe des Flügels ist ein dunkles Graubraun; am Grunde und im Randfelde ist er dunkler, welche dunklere Parthie aber allmählig in die hellere verläuft; gegen die Augenflecken zu wird die Farbe wieder dunkler; längs des Randes bemerken wir eine Reihe (nemlich 6) von runden, hellen Flecken und zwar liegt je zwischen zwei Längsadern ein solcher Fleck, welcher das ganze Feld zwischen den Adern ausfüllt. Es reicht dieser helle Fleck nicht bis zum Flügelrande, welcher wieder dunkler graubraun gefärbt ist. In der Mitte jedes Fleckens legt ein schwarzer, runder Punkt; ob dieser noch einen weissen Augenpunkt besessen habe oder nicht, ist nicht mit Sicherheit zu ermitteln, doch ist es wahrscheinlich, indem wenigstens bei zwei dieser Punkte in der Mitte eine kleine, hellere Stelle wahrzunehmen ist. Diese hellen Augenflecken scheinen von keinem schwarzen Ring eingefasst zu sein.
Von den Unterflügeln ist nur der Grund erhalten. Wir sehen da die, bald in zwei Gabeläste sich spaltende, vena analis und die beiden am Grunde ganz genäherten Mitteladern. Die Färbung dieses Flügeltheils ist gleich wie am Oberflügel, und zwar nach dem Grunde zu auch dunkler werdend.…
Die Bestimmung der Gattung, zu welchem unser Thier gehört, wird sehr dadurch erschwert, dass der Hinterrand nicht ganz erhalten ist. Nach [181] der allgemeinen Form und dem Geäder der Flügel muss er wohl zu den Nymphaliden gehören. Bei den Papilionen, Pieriden, Danaiden und Satyriden ist die Mittelzelle der Flügel durch einen starken Verbindungsast der vena externo-und interno-media geschlossen, wogegen beim fossilen Thiere die Mittelzelle des Oberflügels, und vielleicht auch die des Unterflügels, geöffnet ist, wie diess bei vielen Nymphaliden vorkommt. Von den Pieriden unterscheidet er sich überdiess durch die Art der Verästelung der v. externo-media, indem (um mich der Terminologie von Herrich Schäffer zu bedienen) die 7te und 9te Rippe, vom Nahtrande an gerechnet, aus der sechsten entspringen, und die achte aus der siebenten, während beim fossilen Thiere die 8te und 9te Rippe, wie bei den Nymphaliden, aus der 7ten entspringen. So weist also das Geäder auf einen Nymphaliden. Unter diesen kommen ein paar Gattungen vor (nemlich Apatura und Melitæa) mit offener Mittelzelle der Hinterflügel; allein bei diesen finden sich keine Arten mit Augenflecken, wogegen unter den Vanessen eine Art vorkommt, welche in der Fleckenbildung eine auffallende Aehnlichkeit mit dem fossilen Thiere hat. Zwar ist bei Vanessa die Mittelzelle der Hinterflügel geschlossen, aber durch einen so zarten, feinen Querast, dass dieser sich leicht verwischen konnte. Jene dem fossilen Thiere nahe verwandte Art der Lebenwelt ist die Vanessa Hedonia L. F. Cramer de Uetlandsche Kapellen T. II, Taf. 69, C. D. und T. VIII, Taf. 374, E. F. Es hat diese genau die Grösse des fossilen Thieres, der Aussenrand bildet ebenfalls eine starke Bogenlinie; die Oberflügel sind grauschwarz und haben am Hinterrande eine Reihe von 6 Augenflecken; es sind diese roth und mit einem schwarzen Punkt in der Mitte versehen; dieser schwarze Punkt umfasst einen kleinen weissen Punkt. In der Vertheilung und Stellung dieser Flecken stimmt Pluto ganz mit Hedonia überein, nur sind bei letzterer die Flecken kleiner und von einem schwarzen Ring umfasst; ferner sind sie etwas weiter vom Rande abstehend. Die Vanessa Hedonia kommt auf Ceylon, Amboina, Java und den Phillippinen vor, hat also im tropischen Asien eine weite Verbreitung.
Von Schmetterlingen mit ähnlicher Färbung können noch in Betracht kommen: die Argynnis Diana Cramer II, p. 4, t. 98, D. E. Say. Americ. En-[182] tom. 17, welche im südlichen Theile der vereinigten Staaten (Neu-Georgien, Westflorida, Arkansas and Missouri) lebt. Es hat dieser Schmetterling eine ähnliche Tracht, ist schwarz und am Hinterrande mit einer Reihe gelber Flecken versehen, welche je zwischen die Längsadern vertheilt sind. Diese gelben Flecken reichen aber bis zum Rande, und ferner hat jeder zwei schwarze Punkte. Auch ist die A. Diana bedeutend grösser. In Grösse und Färbung stimmt daher das fossile Thier mehr mit der Hedonia überein, als mit der Diana, doch kann mit voller Sicherheit erst darüber entschieden werden, wenn einmal ein Exemplar mit vollständig erhaltenem Hinterrand gefunden wird; was von diesem erhalten ist, spricht aber auch mehr für die Hedonia als die Diana.
Edwards, in his beautiful work on American Butterflies, refers to this insect in his description of Argynnis Diana[X] and reproduces, from Lyell’s Elements of Geology, Heer’s figure of the insect. He remarks: “It is called Vanessa Pluto in the text, but is plainly an Argynnis.”
Butler, when cataloguing the same insect, remarks:[Y]—