(ORDER—LEPIDOPTERA. Section—Diursa. Family—Nymphalidae. Leach.)
<p>CHARAXES PSAPHON. Westw. (Middle and upper left hand figures).
Charaxes alis omnibus supra fulvo-femigineis, dimidio extemo antieainim plagaquc maxima externa posticanmi
nigris ; subtus omnibus brunneo, lutescenti, et griseo variegatis, lineisquc variis nigris, faseias irregulares, in medio
basali alanim, formantibus, albo marginatis.
Charaxes with all the wings on the upper side of a very rich dark fulvous red colour, the outer half of the fore
wings and a very large patch on the hind wings, occupying nearly the outer half, of a black colour, the imder side of
all the wings varied with glossy brunneous, dull buff and greyish tints, the basal half of the wings varied with
irregular slender black lines forming irregular fascia;, more or less edged with white.
Expansion of the fore wings 4 inches.
Inhabits Ceylon. In the Collection of R. Templeton, Esq.
Description.—The outer margin of the fore wings scarcely appears to be -waved, as in the following
species; and the transverse vein, which closes the discoidal cell, is marked with black. The hind
wings have a narrow black lunule preceding the great black patch, which latter is followed by two
black spots next the anal angle, which is moreover marked with two small black and white dots.
The markings on the underside very nearly resemble those of Charaxes Bernardus ; but the colours
are dai-ker and more varied, with a purplish brown tinge. The hind wings have a submarginal row
of black dots preceded by white ones. The only specimen I have hitherto seen of this species was
lately sent from Ceylon by R. Templeton, Esq., R.A. It is unfortunately not in the finest state of
presentation.
CHARAXES MARMAX. Westw.
Male, upper right hand figure. Female, two lower figures.
Charaxes alis omnibus supra laete fulvis (medio in foemina pallidioribus), maculis nigi-is subcostalibus, striga undata
fusca ante apicem, maculisque nigi-is raarginalibus confluentibus, posticis serie submarginaU macularum nigrarum
albo plus minusve maculatis ; omnibus subtus flavo-fulvis, fulvo et grisescente variegatis, Uneisque variis nigris
abbreviatis in dimidio basali alarum.
Charaxes with all the wings above of a rich orange colour, the middle portion in the females being paler than the
rest of the wing, with some small black spots forming two patches near the costa in the middle of the fore wings
(connected in the female with a row of dusky lunules) ; beyond the middle of the fore wings is a row of dusky
lunules followed by a marginal series of large black confluent spots ; the hind wings are marked beyond the middle
with an irregular row of black spots mostly wedge-shaped, each bearing in the female a small white spot ; the underside
of the wings is of a fulvous or yellow buff colour, varied towai-ds the base with darker iiTegular fasciae edged by
tliin black Unes which are also margined with greyish white. The hind wings have a dark grey transverse fascia
beyond the middle, succeeded by a pearly space on which are white transverse spots followed by nimute black dots,
the pearly spots appear of a triangular form on the fore wings towards the outer margin, between which and the
middle of the wing is a dark fulvous row of thin lunular streaks.
Expansion of the fore wings of the male 3 and 1/2 inches ; of the females 4 an 3/4  inches.
Inhabits Assam. Communicated by Major F.Jenkins. Also inhabits Sylliet. In Mus. Saunders.
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Observations.—This fine species is very closely allied to Charaxes Bernardus, Fabr. (Donovan) Insects of China pl. 34, of my edition*). In both sexes of that species, however, the middle of the
wings bears a large, very pale, buff or white patch, (which indeed somewhat reappears in the female
of the present species) ; the extremity of the fore wings in Ch. Bernardus is, however, much darker
than in this species. Ch. Bernardus may thus be considered as intermediate between Ch. Psaphon
and Marmax. The markings of the under side of the wings, in all these species, is very similar
although the colouring differs ; the difference in the length of the tails of the hind wings in the
opposite sexes of this species occurs also in Ch. Bernardus, whilst the tail at the anal angle of these
wings is almost obliterated.
Col. Hearsey informs me that he usually took the Indian Ch. Fabius upon wounded apple trees,
the butterflies frequenting the wounds to suck up the flvuds which were discharged therefrom.
The powers of flight in this genus must be very great ; in fact the form and proportion of the wings
and the great strength of the wing veins, seem especially to fit the species of this genus for the
most powerful flight.
The plant represented in this plate is Bolbophyllum umbeUatum, from the mountains of India.
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<ul><li>This figure of Donovan is a good copy of Jones' drawing from which Fabricius described the species. Pap. Polyxena, Cramer, pi.</li></ul>
54, fig. A B, is very similar.
J O Westwood
2011-06-27
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