PLATE XLII.
<p>(ORDER— LEPIDOPTERA. Section—Diurna. Family—Heliconiidae)
FIGURE 1.
HESTIA LASONIA. Westw.
Hestia alia sub-elongatis albis, nigro maculatis et venosis ; anticis tertia parte basali costae nigra, macula magna
obliqua nigra per aream discoidalem extensa, serieque macularum subovalium pono medium alee cum margine
apicali haud parallela (anticis propioribus araea; discoidali); posticis macula ovali nigra in medio arete discoidalis ;
omnibusque ad apicem maculis ovalibus inter venas aliisque majoribus clavtis alternatis.
Hestia, with the wings rather elongate, white, spotted and veined with black ; the anterior with the costa for one
third of its extent from the base black, with a large black oblique spot extending across the discoidal cell, and a
row of somewhat oval spots, variable in size, beyond the middle of the wing, not parallel with the apical margin (the
spots towards the costa being nearer to the extremity of the discoidal cell) ; the hind wings with an oval black spot
in the middle of the discoidal cell ; all the wings having a row of elongate oval spots along the apical margin
between the veins, which latter are marked at the extremity with an alternating scries of larger spots, which are
clavate next the middle of the wing.
Expansion of the fore wings, 5 J inches.
Inhabits the Island of Ceylon. In the Collection of R. Templeton, Esq., R.A. (also in the British Museum).
</p><p>Observations.—The two species of this genus, figured in Plate ;37, will be at once perceived to
differ from the one here represented in the position of the row of spots beyond the middle of the fore
wings ; in the former species, these spots form a nearly straight row, but in the present species, as well
as in H. Lyncea, they form an angulated line, those nearest the fore margin of the wing being nearer
to the body of the insect. How far this may be a good specific character, must be left for time (or,
more properly speaking, the possession of an extensive series of specimens of these insects from different
localities) to determine. It is doubtless, in some degree, dependent on the form of the apical angle
of the wing, and this form of the wing, as a specific character, cannot at present, I beheve, be fully
relied upon. That the form of the wing varies in some butterflies according to the localities of the
individuals, is unquestionable ; and if this should be ascertained to be the case here, I think it may
possibly be followed by the discovery that all the supposed species of Hestia are only so many local or
geographical sub-species of one real species.
</p><p>FIGURE 2.
(Section—Crepuscularia. Family—Sphingidae.)
SPHINX (ACHERONTIA) LETHE, Westw.
Sphinx alis anticisfuscis plumbeo in-oratis, nigroque variegatis et undatis, basi apiceque luteo ferrugineoque magis
variis, stigmate parvo albo, undulis albis seu albidis pone medium ad costam magis conspicuis ; alis posticis fulvis,
b.isi, fascia lata media (luteo submaculata) fasciaque lata marginali nigro-fuscis, margine ipso luteo submaculato ;
corpore fusco thorace supra plumbeo uti'inque strigis duabus nigi-icantibus, dorso facie valde variegata picto, fronte
et naso albis, oculis nigris, auribus nigricantibus, genis griseis, ore lato undato ferrugineo barbaque nigricanti gi-iseo
parum irrorato ; abdomine supra fusco, segmentis in medio plumbeo maculatis, lateribusque luteo maculatis ;
pedibus latis, fulvo annulatis.
Sphinx with the fore wings brown, irrorated with leaden-coloured scales and variegated with black markings, and
undulated streaks ; the base and especially the extremity of the wing more varied with luteous and ferruginous, stigma
small and white, a double series of white or whitish undulations beyond the middle of the wing, more conspicuous next the costa, hind wings fulvous ; with the base, a central broad fascia (occasionally slightly spotted with luteous),
and a broad apical margin blackish-brown, the margin itself with a row of small luteous spots ; body brown varied
with luteous, thorax above leaden-coloured, with two rich brown streaks on each side ; the face upon the back much
more varied in its colours than in the other species of this sub-genus, the forehead and nose very slender, wliite
or whitish ; eyes black, ears rich brown, cheeks leaden, mouth very wide and waved ferruginous, moustachios and
beard blackish-brown, slightly grey ; upper side of the abdomen brown, each segment with a large central leadencoloured
spot and with a lateral luteous spot; legs broad, annulated with fulvous.
Expansion of the fore wings of the female, 5 inches.
Inhabits various parts of the East Indies, Ceylon, &amp;c. Communicated by Col. Hearsey and R. Templeton, Esq.
Syn. Acherontia Satanas ? Bdv. Hist. Nat. Lep. PI. 16, fig. 1. (fig. parva, sme descriptione).
Observation.—This species seems closely allied to the East Indian Sphinx Lachesis Fabr., especially
in its dark hind wings ; but the character " abdomine nigro flavo fasciato," will not agree with
the insect here figured. I possess a manuscript reference of this Fabrician insect to Sphinx ("morti
signalis, Cr. xx.—237,") by the late Professor Weber of Keil.
FIGURE 3.
SPHINX (ACHERONTIA) STYX. Westw.
Sphinx alis anticis fuscis, plumbeo irroratis nigroque variegatis et undatis, apiceque luteo et ferrugineo magis
variis, stigmate parvo luteo, undulis albidis pone medium ad costam magis conspieuis ; alis posticis fulvis, fasciis
duabus nigricantibus : Ima, angusta mediana; 2nda, utrinque dentata submarginali ; corpore fusco, thorace supra
lateribus plumbeis utrinque strigis duabus nigris ; figura dorsali faciei coloris fusci fere uniformis, ocuUs parvis
nigris, postice lunula nigra (striam curvatam plumbeam includente) cincta ; abdomine fulvo ; segmento singulo
macula parva quadrata plumbea dorsal iucisurisque fuscis ; pedibus angustis luteo annulatis.
Sphinx with the fore wings brown, irrorated with leaden-coloured scales and variegated-and waved with black,
the extremity of the wing being more varied with luteous and ferruginous ; stigma small and luteous and with a
double row of whitish undulated streaks beyond the middle of the wing, most conspicuous next the costa ; hind
wings fulvous with two blackish fasciae, the first narrow and central, the second toothed on each side and sub-marginal
, body brown, upper surface of the thorax leaden-coloured at the sides, with two black streaks on each side,
the dorsal face-like mark nearly of an uniform dull reddish-brown colour, with two small black eyes, posteriorly
margined by a black lunule including a slender leaden-coloured curved line ; abdomen fulvous, each segment with
a small square dorsal leaden spot and with the articulations brown ; legs narrow, annulated with luteous.
Expansion of the fore wings, 4^ inches.
Inhabits the East Indies. Communicated by Col. Hearsey.
Observations.—This species is most nearly allied to Sphinx Atropos, but differs from it in its
smaller size, in the uniform colour of the face-like marking on the back of the thorax, and in the
slenderness of the limbs.
</p>
The plant represented in the Plate is the Javanese Orchidaceous Acanthophippium Javanicum.
J O Westwood
2011-06-27
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