Chapter III: Part 3

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]—

It is quite possible, as Mr. Edwards suggests, that the
so-called “_Vanessa Pluto_” may be the ancestor of _P. Diana_,
though in the narrower banding of its wings, with but one row
of submarginal spots, it more nearly resembles some of the East
Indian forms of _Junonia Hedonia_: the two genera to which
these species belong agree in many respects, and are perhaps
nearly allied.

Later, he figures the fossil and refers it doubtfully to Junonia, appending the following remarks:[Z]—

I have noticed this species at p. 109 of my catalogue of
Fabrician Diurnal Lepidoptera; Mr. W. H. Edwards of W.
Virginia having decided in his Butterflies of N. America that
it is unquestionably an _Argynnis_ allied to _A. Diana_,
notwithstanding the important discrepancies which Heer points
out [128]. That it may bear some distant relationship to
_A. Diana_ is quite possible, but that it is “plainly an
_Argynnis_” is quite another thing; to my mind it is plainly a
_Vanessid_, probably a _Junonia_ near to _J. Hedonia_, and I
think some points in Heer’s description (of which Mr. Edwards
takes no notice) are very important, as evidencing its near
relationship to _J. Hedonia_ rather than to _A. Diana_ [here he
quotes Heer’s description of the submarginal spots].

The ocelli are well shown in Heer’s figure, but in the woodcuts
by Lyell and Edwards, which have in other respects been made
much darker than the original, the indication of the lower edge
of the ocelli has been omitted altogether, and, consequently,
the resemblance to the species of _Junonia_ is rendered less
evident. I think it just possible, from the great resemblance
which _V. Attavina_ of Heer bears to the under surface of _J.
Hedonia_, that it is the reverse of _J. Pluto_.

This species is very simple in its markings (Pl. II, fig. 17), the whole upper surface, excepting a broad space next the outer border of the fore wings (the equivalent part of the hind wings is not preserved) being of an uniform dusky tint; a broad belt of a lighter shade margins the (fore) wings, growing less distinct from the darker base above the next to the lowest subcostal nervule; this belt darkens toward the outer border, especially in slight dusky fleckings along the nervures and down the middle of the interspaces; the latter streaks reach small, round, blackish spots about one-quarter the width of the interspaces, in the middle of the basal two-thirds of their lighter parts. Heer represents them too far from the outer margin of the wing, and as often crowned above with a dark semicircular line, which is not at all indicated in the drawing made for me; these spots are found in all the interspaces below the outermost superior subcostal nervule, but they are very indistinct and minute above, faint below and only distinct and as large as stated in the three interspaces next above the lowest median nervule. The light belt is two interspaces wide in the upper median interspace, but widens a little above this and is separated from the darker base by a vague and very slightly crenate line (less crenate than in the representation by Heer), which approaches the outer margin at the nervures and to a slightly greater extent in the lower part of each interspace than in the upper.

Pierids with so dark a coloring as appears in this fossil are not unknown, particularly in the genera Archonias and Pereute; compare for example the figure given in Doubleday and Hewitson’s Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera, Pl. V, fig. 2. And that markings of this character are not unknown, compare some species of Ixias, Hebomoia and allied genera; if the colors of _Hebomoia Leucippe_, as given by Doubleday and Hewitson, were reversed, the resemblance to Pluto would be rather close; and while light spots in a dark border are the rule in this subfamily, dark spots on a light ground are not unknown, and the reversal of tints is a not uncommon occurrence in nearly related Lepidoptera.

A second fossil, which I have been unable to see or to have redrawn, is given by Heer as probably representing the under surface of the same insect. His remarks are as follows:[AA]—

Hierher rechne ich auch ein Stück eines Unterflügels aus der
Grätzer Sammlung, das bei Taf. XIV, Fig. 5 [Pl. II, fig. 15],
dargestellt ist. Die Hauptadern treten an diesem Flügelstücke
alle hervor. Die beiden Mitteladern schliessen ein nicht sehr
grosses Mittelfeld ein; ob dieses durch einen Verbindungsast
zwischen den beiden Mitteladern geschlossen ist oder nicht,
war mir nicht möglich zu ermitteln: bei guter Beleuchtung
glaubte ich dort einen schwachen Quereindruck zu sehen, der
als Verbindungsast zu deuten wäre; jedenfalls wäre derselbe
aber äusserst zart, viel zarter als die übrigen deutlichen
Adern. Die äussere Mittelader sendet 4 Aeste aus, der erste
entspringt nahe der Flügelbasis und läuft nach dem Aussenrande,
die drei folgenden entspringen näher flügelspitzwärts. Die
v. interno-media zerspaltet sich in 3 Aeste, ganz so wie die
des Oberflügels, welche auch in gleicher Weise verlaufen.
Alle 3 Aeste sind fast gleich weit von einander entfernt und
entspringen nicht von einem Punkt. Die vena analis zerspaltet
sich bald nach ihrem Ursprung in zwei Gabeläste, welche nach
aussen laufen. Die Farbe des Flügels ist ein helles Graubraun.

Fig. 1. The dotted outer border of the hind wing represents the probable limit of the Gratz fossil. The broken outer border indicates the probable size of the hind wing of _Mylothrites Pluto_.]

As far as the neuration is concerned (excepting that of the costal nervure, which is certainly incorrectly rendered, and does not accord with the description) it agrees sufficiently with the general neuration of Mylothris[AB] to suppose it may belong to the allied genus Mylothrites, but that it can belong to _M. Pluto_ is exceedingly improbable, as one may judge by tracing the probable extent of the broken hind wing, and placing the tracing in juxtaposition with the fore wing of Pluto, as in the accompanying woodcut (fig. 1); for it must be remembered that in all the genera of this subfamily, the cell extends at least to the middle of the wing; the hind wing of _M. Pluto_ must, therefore, have certainly been fully one-sixth longer than the wing conjectured to belong to it; so great a difference is at least unusual among individuals of the same species in this group; moreover, the neuration is not quite what we should expect, although the appearance of veins on the drawing we have reproduced must be in part due to extraneous causes; we will, therefore, make no attempt to decipher the present condition of the fossil, trusting that some of the Austrian lepidopterists will give the subject early attention.

A study of the original description and illustration of the front wing of this butterfly leads me to the conclusion that the description of the neuration of the fossil was drawn up from the illustration and not from the fossil itself. Both agree in the points in which my drawing (Pl. II, fig. 7) differs from them; and since in these very points they will not harmonize with the neuration of any living Lepidoptera, while the drawing I present agrees as well as could be desired with certain of them, I am forced to believe the original drawing published by Heer, and the accompanying description, presumably founded upon it, to be incorrect. I am acquainted with but very few living butterflies[AC] in which a nervule is emitted from the inferior side of the subcostal nervure nearer the base of the wing than any of the superior nervules of the same vein; this is the manner in which the neuration of this butterfly is represented in Heer’s plate and in his description, if read carefully in connection with the plate; although he does not tell us on which side of his _zweite Hauptast his dritte Hauptast_ originates.

The description given by Heer of the markings of the fore wing is more complete than I have been able to offer from an inspection of drawings alone; it differs, too, in one somewhat important point, in that what I have called a broad lighter belt with blackish dots in each interspace, he has described as a series of pale circular spots as broad as the interspaces, each containing a blackish pupil. A reëxamination of the fossil upon this point is desirable; the only indication of such circular pale spots in my drawing is the curved boundary in each interspace between the darker and lighter portions.

Tertiaries of Radoboj, Croatia. Fore wing, Hof-Mineralien Kabinet, Vienna. Hind wing, Museum of Gratz, Austria.

COLIATES SCUDDER.

The fore wing (Pl. II, fig. 5) is slightly more than twice as long as broad; the costal border is straight for fully two-thirds its length, and then curves gradually and slightly downward, the apex rounded off; the outer margin has a nearly regular and slight convexity, but is nearly straight in the middle half; the lower outer angle is rounded and the inner margin slightly convex. The costal nervure scarcely reaches the middle of the costal border; the discoidal cell is but little more than half the length of the wing; the subcostal nervure has but two superior branches, although the outer is not only itself forked, but its upper fork is branched at the extreme tip of the wing; the first superior nervule is emitted at some distance previous to the tip of the cell, or opposite the base of the first median nervure; it terminates in the middle of the outer half, of the costal margin, and the forked branch of the outer superior nervule supports the extreme apex of the wing; the inferior subcostal nervule arises midway between the bases of the two superior nervules, and terminates about one-third way down the outer border; the vein closing the cell strikes it near the base and has an inward convexity, meeting the upper median nervule farther from its origin; the first median nervule originates at some distance beyond the middle of the cell.

In the form of the wing and its neuration this fossil group is more nearly allied to Delias (Pl. II, fig. 4) than to any other genus I have been able to examine. It is plain at first glance that it must be placed in the vicinity of Delias, Thyca, Prioneris and similar East Indian Fugacia, in which there are but two superior subcostal nervules, and in which the outer of these is forked; but I have met with no instance among these in which one of these forks is itself branched; and this insect differs notably from them all in the elongate form of the wing, the remarkably straight costa[AD] and the shorter discoidal cell; and from all Pierids in the shortness of its costal nervure and the basal extension of the first superior subcostal nervule; this latter nervure always originates, in every living type I have examined, at or beyond a point opposite the middle of the space between the bases of the first and second median nervules.

COLIATES PROSERPINA SCUDDER.

Plate II, fig. 5.

The fossil to which I have given this name is exceedingly obscure, having no color whatever distinct from the stone in which it is imbedded; this is of a chalky gray color. I have seen both impression and reverse, the latter a little in relief. The fossil consists of both anterior wings, one beneath and slightly in advance of the other, thus complicating very greatly the study of the already indistinct neuration; in addition to this the wings are crumpled and additional longitudinal lines are present, scarcely distinguishable from the longitudinal nervures. On this account it should be stated that there may be some doubt about the exact position of the lowest three branchlets of the subcostal nervure. The stone has been broken next the edge of the wing, and its form can thus be traced where the real border is wanting, although again the drawing presented may be slightly inaccurate next the inner margin; but the probabilities are great that it is correct throughout. The spots which are represented on our plate in the middle of the lower median, subcosto-median and lower subcostal interspaces, are only irregularities of surface on the stone, but as they appear in regular position are not improbably dark spots, upon a light ground. A few points for the insertion of the scales can be detected near the apex of the wings, ·075mm. apart. The neuration of the fossil agrees better with that of _Delias Pasithoe_ than with that of any other butterfly I have examined. Length of wing, 21mm.; greatest breadth, 9mm..

Tertiaries of Aix, Provence, France. Collection of Count de Saporta.

PAPILIONIDÆ—DANAI—VORACIA.

PONTIA FABRICIUS.

_Pierites_ HEER, Insekt. Tert. Œning., ii, 182; IB., Nouv. Mem.
Soc. Helv., xi, 182; GIEB., Faun. der Vorw., ii, 187.

Fore wings fully three-quarters as long again as broad, the costal margin slightly convex at the basal and apical fifth, scarcely bent at an angle with the nearly straight middle portion, the outer angle abrupt but softened. Outer margin nearly straight and inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees with the middle portion of the costal border, above the middle subcostal nervule receding slightly in a gentle curve. Inner margin straight, the outer angle well rounded. Costal nervure terminating a little beyond the middle of the margin. Subcostal nervure with three superior branches; the first arising shortly before the middle of the outer half of the cell, a little nearer the apex of the cell in the female than in the male; the second arising scarcely (male), or a very little (female), beyond the tip of the cell; the third emitted at about two-fifths the distance from the apex of the cell to the outer margin, forked at the extreme tip in the male. Cell half as long as the wing and nearly four times as long as broad.

The butterflies are scarcely larger than those of the genus Pieris, but have more pointed fore wings; like them they are white, but extensively spotted with deep brown; the fore wings have a broad bar at the tip of the cell, and midway between this and the outer border a widely interrupted transverse series of similar but smaller spots; the outer border, especially the upper half, is also more or less distinctly margined with triangular, frequently confluent spots seated in the interspaces; these occur more often in the female than in the male.

The characters given above are drawn wholly from recent species of the genus.

PONTIA FREYERI (HEER) SCUDDER.

Plate II, figs. 16, 18.

_Pierites Freyeri_ HEER, Insekt. Tert. Œning., ii, 182-83, Taf.
14, fig. 6 (1849); IB., Nouv. Mem. Soc. Helv., xi, 182-83, Taf.
14, fig. 6 (1850); GIEB., Deutschl. Petref., 644 (1852); IB.,
Faun. der Vorw., ii, 187 (1856); KIRB., Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lep.,
509 (1871).

The original description of this insect we owe to Heer; it is as follows:[AE]—

Alis anterioribus lividis, margine maculisque duabus nigris.

Länge des Vorderflügels 9¾ Lin., Breite 5½ Lin.

Radoboi. Ein einzelner Vorderflügel, dessen Spitze und
theilweise auch Hinterrand aber zerstört ist, in der k. k.
montanistischen Sammlung zu Wien. [Pl. II, fig. 16.]

Das Geäder ist nicht in seinem Verlauf zu ermitteln und da auch
der Umriss des Flügels nicht vollständig vorliegt, ist die
Gattung nicht mit Sicherheit zu ermitteln. In Form und Farbe
scheint er am meisten mit manchen Pieriden, namentlich Pieris
Daplidice, zu stimmen, wofür auch das dünne Schuppenkleid, das
er gehabt zu haben scheint, angeführt werden kann, wogegen
die allerdings stumpfen Zacken am Hinterrand eine abweichende
Bildung zeigen.

Der Flügel ist am Grunde stark verschmälert, nach dem
Hinterrande zu stark verbreitert; der Hinterrand ist stumpf
gekerbt; in die Bucht der Kerbe läuft eine Längsfalte, in die
Mitte derselben eine Ader aus, die man aber nicht bis zur
Insertionsstelle verfolgen kann; die äussere Flügelspitze
fehlt; ebenso ein Stück des Hinterrandes an der [183]
Nahtseite. Von den Adern kann man nur die einfache v. analis
in ihrer ganzen Länge verfolgen; sie ist dem Nahtrande sehr
genähert. Die Farbe des Flügels ist hell gelbbraun und war im
Leben wohl weiss oder gelblich. Der Hinterrand ist von der
Mitte an bis zum Aussenrand schwarz, und zwar wird diese dunkle
Parthie auswärts breiter; ungefähr in der Flügelmitte geht
vom Aussenrand ein viereckiger, dunkler Fleck aus, welcher
dieselbe Grösse, Form und Stellung hat, wie der schwarze Fleck
bei Pieris Daplidice; ein zweiter kleinerer, rundlicher Fleck
liegt näher dem Hinter-und Nahtrande und entspricht dem, an
derselben Stelle liegenden, Flecken der Unterseite von Pieris
Daplidice.—Am Flügelgrunde bemerkt man den Schenkel und Schiene
eines dünnen Beines, das wohl diesem Thiere angehört hat.

This insect evidently belongs to the genus Pontia, judging from the disposition of the markings of the upper surface of the fore wings (Pl. II, fig. 18); this is the only thing we have here to guide us, although the drawing made for us in Vienna seems to show that with great pains the neuration of at least a part of the apex might be traced and lead to more positive determination. The fossil species seems best comparable with _P. Protodice_ (Pl. II, fig. 12) of N. America, although, as suggested by Heer, most nearly resembling _P. Daplidice_, of European species. The dark spot at the apex of the cell appears to cover a larger area than in _P. Protodice_, extending with equal breadth almost to the costal margin, and also covering a considerable space at the base of the subcosto-median interspace, equal indeed to the entire width of the portion of the spot within the cell. The region below this spot, next the base of the lower median interspace, is also rather faintly suffused with griseous tints. The precise extent of the subcostal spots midway between the cell and the apex cannot be determined, owing to the imperfect state of the fossil; but they evidently form a connected series as much larger than the similar spots in _P. Protodice_ as the cellular spot, and extend from the costal margin to the lowest subcostal nervures, expanding considerably baseward in the upper half of their course. There is no spot in the upper median interspace, as in _P. Protodice_, but, instead, a precisely similar one in the middle of the apical three-fifths of the lower median interspace, where it does not occur in _P. Protodice_; and this affords the principal ground for supposing the insect to be generically distinct from Pontia, no distinctive premarginal spot occurring in this interspace in any species of Pontia which we have seen. The dusky premarginal fleckings of the nervures terminating on the outer border, often enlarging into distinct spots, which are so usual in Pontia, especially in the upper half of the wing, are also absent from the fossil species; but in their place the whole outer margin appears to be almost uniformly, though not heavily, griseous, a little more distinctly so in the upper than in the lower half of the wing. The spot just beyond the middle of the medio-submedian interspace, distinct in _P. Protodice_, but deepest in shade on the lower half of the interspace, and in other species sometimes wholly confined to it, is seen in the fossil species, but is far less distinct, confined to the lower half and situated exactly in the middle. There are indications also of dark markings following the basal third of the submedian nervure; and apparently the basal half of the costal edge, as far as the costal nervure, is darker than any part of the wing, excepting in a sudden and rather broad, distinct break in its middle. This darker portion is considered by Heer as the femur of one of the legs, superimposed upon the base of the wing; perhaps, however, this is due to an accidental folding of the wing at this point, which seems the more probable, because if we suppose this darker portion to be turned back, the curve of the costal border would approximate much more closely to its condition in _P. Protodice_; while its present form is much straighter, exhibiting only a very slight and regular convexity. As far as can be judged from the fragment, the form of the other parts of the wing coincides with that of _P. Protodice_.

As in all species of Pontia there is a slight wrinkling of the membrane in the interspaces, forming slight channels running from the outer border inward, nearly to the depth of two interspaces, indicated in the fossil by dark lines as heavy as the nervures, and caused by their filling with sedimentary material. The extreme length of the part of the wing preserved is 24mm. and the greatest width 22.5mm.

The markings lead one to conjecture that the individual was a male.

PAPILIONIDÆ—PAPILIONIDES—PARNASSII.

THAITES HEER, MS.

Body rather robust (Pl. III, figs. 9 and 10). Vertex of head large, broad, convex. Eyes pretty large, short ovate, their longer diameter vertical. Palpi (Pl. III, fig. 7) slender, resembling those of Thais, but rather longer, extending far beyond the eye, rather thinly clothed with hairs. Antennæ (Pl. III, fig. 8) resembling those of Sericinus more than those of Thais, being about half as long as the body, slender and equal on the basal three-fifths, gradually expanding beyond into a club, which is more than twice as broad as the stem, and stoutest just before the well rounded, slightly upturned tip; in the middle of the antennæ the joints are half as long again as broad, broader than long at the base of the club, and three or four times as broad as long in the middle of the club and beyond; on the apical half of the club, and perhaps a little further, the joints of the club are furnished with a double row of minute shallow pits, such as are seen in Eurymus. The tongue was at least as long as the thorax.

The thorax is well arched and pretty stout; the paraptera (Pl. III, fig. 6) are a little more than twice as long as broad, their outer edge nearly straight, the posterior extremity broad and well rounded. The legs are not well enough preserved to state anything concerning them with certainty, but the middle (?) pair are probably of the length of the antennæ.

The fore wings (Pl. III, fig. 3) are only a little more than half as long again as broad, the greatest breadth beyond the middle; the costal border is pretty regularly and not greatly arched throughout; the outer margin is more strongly arched but with a similar regularity, and the general direction of its upper half is at right angles to the outer third of the costal border, the apex scarcely rounded off; the inner border is nearly straight. The proportions of the hind wing, as to length and breadth, are nearly the same as those of the fore wings, making it unusually long and narrow, as in Thais (Pl. III, fig. 4), and also, as there, nearly as broad toward the base as at tip. The costal border is rather strongly convex next the base of the wing, but beyond is nearly straight, sloping apically so as to make a uniform curve with the outer border, which is almost entire as in Parnassius (Pl. III, fig. 5), rather than as in Thais (Pl. III, fig. 4), strongly arched, especially near the last median nervule, and angulated below where it meets with the regularly and broadly concave inner margin.

In the neuration of the fore wings (Pl. III, fig. 1) this genus is peculiar for the shortness of its cell, which is less than half as long as the wing, and is broadest in the middle of its distal half, beyond which it narrows rather rapidly. The costal nervure terminates a little before the middle of the outer two-thirds of the costal border. The subcostal nervure emits two superior branches before the tip of the cell; the first is thrown off near the middle of the outer half of the cell and terminates as far beyond the tip of the costal nervure as it is beyond the middle of the costal border; beyond the emission of the first superior nervule the subcostal nervure curves downward away from the costal nervure, with which it had hitherto been parallel, and throws off the second superior nervule shortly before the apex of the cell; this nervule terminates exactly at the apex of the wing, but, just before the tip, divides, sending a short branch to the outer border; about two-fifths of the distance from the tip of the cell to the outer border, the subcostal nervure divides into two branches which reach the outer border near the middle of its upper half; the inferior subcostal nervule leaves the nervure nearly at right angles, but almost immediately turns and runs subparallel to it and its lower ultimate branch. The median nervure throws off its first nervule a little beyond the middle of the cell; its second midway between this and the base of the fourth, and the third midway between its two neighbors; beyond the emission of the second nervule the nervure bends upward, and still more on throwing off the subsequent one; the first two nervules are straight, the upper two arched, and the base of the last is united to the short basal fragment of the inferior subcostal nervule by a curving vein opening outward, whose general course is nearly at right angles to the costal border.

In the hind wing the relation of the cell to the length of the wing is as in the front pair; it is broadest at the first divarications of the bordering nervures and narrows rapidly beyond. The first branches of the subcostal and median nervures are emitted near the middle of the distal half of the cell, and that of the subcostal is a nearly straight continuation of the basal portion of the nervure; the outer subcostal and median nervules are twice as close at base as any of the others, and the middle nervules divide the space between the first and third; the submedian nervure is parallel to, and scarcely removed from, the inner border.

In the pattern of their markings (Pl. III, fig. 3) the wings of Thaites are rather simple. The fore wing is provided with four nearly equidistant, nearly straight, transverse, pale stripes, depending at about right angles from the subcostal nervure, unequal in length and width, the third from the base situated in the middle of the wing; and also with a submarginal curving row of moderately large, transversely ovate spots, one in each interspace opening on the outer border, excepting the subcosto-median and medio-submedian interspaces, all ranged in a series curving more strongly than the outer border. The hind wing is nearly uniform on the basal half, but beyond is crossed by transverse, curving, dark, cloudy bands, broadening on the nervures and enclosing between them roundish or transversely ovate pale spots.

The abdomen is stout, half as long as the hind wings, well arched, and the terminal segment (of the female?) half as long as broad, the segments provided with a latero-dorsal and pleural row of very small, vertically ovate, pale spots.

This genus differs from Thais (Pl. III, figs. 2, 4) and the other genera allied to the swallow-tails in about the same degree as they do among themselves. It is closely allied to Thais in most particulars; the antennæ resemble those of Thais, more than they do those of other genera, if we except only Sericinus; in the form of the wings it lies midway between Thais and Archon; as to neuration the discoidal cell of the fore wings has the form seen in Sericinus, being broadest apically, while in Parnassius (Pl. III, fig. 5), Thais and Eurycus it is largest in the middle; but it is shorter than half the length of the wing, while in Sericinus, as in all the other genera, it is considerably more than half the length of the wing; the tip of the cell is limited above, in most of these genera, by the vein closing the cell; that is, the inferior subcostal nervule originates beyond the tip of the cell; but in Thais it originates at the tip of the cell, while in Thaites the cell is limited by the inferior subcostal nervule and the vein closing the cell originates from it; in other particulars of its neuration it resembles the tailed Sericinus.

In design (Pl. III, fig. 3) Thaites recalls none of the recent genera very closely. In the fore wings it approaches Thais (Pl. III, fig. 4) rather than the others, and in the hind wings some species of Parnassius (Pl. III, fig. 5). It has none of the eccentric spots of Parnassius and a darker ground than any of the modern types. It is wholly unprovided with the strongly marked crescentic spots of Thais, but in the position, form and arrangement of the principal markings rather recalls Archon. Excepting Eurycus and some species of Thais, no modern genera resemble Thaites in the extension of a distinctive pattern upon the hind wings to or nearly to the extremity of the cell. Whether any of the markings were accompanied by the brilliant spots often seen in Thais, Archon and Parnassius cannot be determined, but we may presume that they were not, since in these genera the markings are dark upon a lighter ground, while in Thaites they are light upon a dark ground,—a combination found among the Papilonid genera, only in some of the swallow tails.

In the markings of the abdomen, I do not know that we find anything parallel to Thaites among the Parnassians, but among the neighboring Equites there are similar examples of rows of small light spots on a dark ground. I have not been able, however, to examine this point carefully.

THAITES RUMINIANA HEER MS.

Plate III, figs. 1, 3, 6-10.

_Thaites Ruminiana_ HEER, Climat pays tert., trad. Gaudin, 205
(1861) [absq. descr.]; Sap., Ann. Sc. Nat. [5], Bot., xv, 343
(1872) [ibid.].

The wings were evidently dark with light markings. On the fore wings the first transverse stripe (Pl. III, fig. 3) extends from the subcostal nervure, midway between its first divarication and the base of the wing, almost to the middle of the basal two-thirds of the inner border; it is slender, nearly equal and straight, the portion within the cell about four times as long as broad; the second transverse band is the largest, and lies midway between the first and the third, parallel to them, reaching from the subcostal nervure almost to the inner border; it is straight and equal, and the portion within the cell (which is half of the whole, although traversing the cell at its broadest part) is three times as long as broad; the third transverse bar is in the middle of the wing, smaller than the first and equally slender, extending from the subcostal nervure, just beyond the tip of the cell, almost to the upper median nervule; it is equal and straight excepting above, where it curves inward following the border of the cell; the outermost is broader and more irregular, depending from the first superior subcostal nervule and extending nearly to the upper median nervule, so that its exterior border just strikes the subcostal nervure at its divarication far beyond the cell; the inner margin is straight and the spot thus forms a transverse bar, straight and equal above the subcostal nervure, but with the outer border sloping away so that the lower extremity is twice as broad as the upper. The submarginal series of spots are of nearly equal size, the uppermost largest, the next two smallest; each set of three forms a nearly straight line, but all together they follow a strong curve which approaches close to the border in the lowest subcostal interspace, being separated from it by but its own width; above this they recede rapidly from the border, the outer edge of the innermost being next the fork of the second superior subcostal nervule; but below, the spots are parallel to the outer border and separated by about an interspace’s width from it; the upper spots are transversely broad ovate; the lower transversely subquadrate; apparently the fringe is exceedingly short and concolorous as in Parnassius.

The basal parts of the hind wing are almost uniformly dark, excepting that there is a paler suffusion in the outer part of the cell; beyond, the wing is clouded with darker, transverse, strongly curving, powdery stripes; the most conspicuous of these is one which crosses the wing a little outside the middle of the portion beyond the cell; it takes its rise in a darker spot, which borders the wing just above the tip of the upper subcostal nervure, and runs in a nearly straight line, widening as it goes, to the lowest subcostal nervule, where it reaches its greatest width, and scarcely narrowing curves around to the inner border a little before its tip; on the nervules it reaches further baseward and borderward. Between this belt and another similar but much less conspicuous band, half way between it and the tip of the cell, are enclosed circular pale spots, one occupying the entire width of each interspace below the middle subcostal nervule and a portion of the one above it; following the principal dark band are two alternating sets of dark and light, narrow, inconspicuous, transverse stripes, more or less confused in the middle of the wing, the dark bands broadening and deepening at the nervures, breaking the paler bands to a greater or less extent into broad transverse spots; the fringe appears to be as on the fore wings. Judging from the form of the last abdominal segment, and the great size of the abdomen, this specimen was probably a female. Length of fore wing, 25mm.; breadth of the same, 14·3mm.; length of antennæ, about 6mm.; breadth of antennæ in middle of stem, ·2mm.; breadth of antennæ toward tip of club, ·5mm..

Tertiaries of Aix. Collection of Professor Heer; Zurich, Switzerland.

URBICOLÆ—HESPERIDES.

THANATITES SCUDDER.

Very much of the general appearance of Thanaos Boisd. (Pl. III, fig. 11) but with somewhat differently formed wings and markings which will not accord with those of the latter genus, although the two genera are certainly nearly allied.

The body (Pl. III, fig. 12) is fully as stout as in Thanaos (Pl. III, fig. 11), the tongue at least as long as the thorax, the eyes ovate and larger, than in Thanaos, and the palpi with the terminal joint proportionally larger, which is an unusual feature in the Urbicolæ. The legs are apparently short, the wings ample. The costal margin of the fore wings is nearly straight, being scarcely arched on the apical half, the upper half of outer border as in Thanaos, the rest not preserved; the costal fold of the male is narrow and extends a very little beyond the middle of the costal border, while in Thanaos it reaches considerably further; the hind wings have the general shape of Thanaos, but the upper outer angle is much more produced, and the base of the costal border is arched only to the degree that the apex is, and the portion between them is but slightly convex; the outer border is almost precisely as in Thanaos and the inner border is, doubtless, folded in the fossil so as to conceal its true character. Very little of the neuration can be determined, and what can be made out is comparatively unimportant and agrees with the neuration of Thanaos; the third superior subcostal nervule strikes the apex of the fore wing as in that genus. As to the markings, the agreement with Thanaos is less striking, although the pattern resembles that of Thanaos more closely than it does that of any other genus. In the fore wings the spot in the cell of Thanaos is wanting in the fossil, but in its stead there is a costal spot at the extremity of the costal fold; the subapical spots of Thanaos depending from the costa are distinctly repeated in Thanatites, and in addition there is a submarginal series of small round spots of which the upper two, in the uppermost interspaces opening on the outer border, are the only ones visible on the fossil by its mode of preservation. On the under surface of the hind wings of Thanatites, there is a regular submarginal series of equal, rather small, round spots, one in each interspace, placed between the location of the marginal and submarginal spots which occur in Thanaos, often distinctly, occasionally as faint blurred bands, as in _T. Juvenalis_ (Pl. III, fig. 11); the inner of these two series in Thanaos, which corresponds best to the submarginal series of Thanatites, is irregular instead of parallel to the border, being always bent inward opposite the cell. Instead of the spot, placed in the costo-subcostal interspace of Thanaos near the middle of the wing, and seen distinctly in _T. Juvenalis_, there are two spots, which, with a third near the base of the wing above the costal nervure, are placed at equal distances apart and from the costal border; in addition there are two spots, seldom even indicated in Thanaos, near the centre of the wing, the larger of which is near the apex of the cell. These differences alone would suffice to show that the fossil cannot be referred to Thanaos, and, with the other indications we have given, compel us to place it apart, but in the immediate vicinity of this group of Urbicolæ.

THANATITES VETULA (HEYDEN) SCUDDER.

Plate III, figs. 12, 16.

_Vanessa vetula_ HEYD., Palæontographica, viii, 12-13, Taf. i,
fig. 10 (1859).

_Araschnia vetula_ KIRB., Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lep. 179 (1871).

The only notice of this insect that has been published is the original figure and description of von Heyden. The figure is reproduced in our Pl. III, fig. 16. The description is as follows:[AF]—

Es scheint diese Art in die Nähe der bei uns lebenden Vanessa
Levana zu gehören. Sie ist kleiner als diese, indem der
Vorderflügel von seiner Basis bis zur Spitze nur 6½‴ misst.
Der Schmetterling liegt auf der rechten Seite, wobei der linke
Hinterflügel den linken Vorderflügel völlig bis auf die Spitze
und einen Theil des Aussenrandes deckt. Von diesen Flügeln ist
daher nur die Unterseite sichtbar. Der rechte Vorderflügel ist
mehr vorgeschoben und daher ein grosser Theil seiner Überseite
sichtbar.

Die Flügel sind im Allgemeinen gut erhalten und scheinen am
Aussenrande an einigen [13] Stellen schwach ausgerandet gewesen
zu seyn. Sie zeigen auf der Grundfarbe grössere, undeutlich
schwarze und viele weisse Flecken von verschiedener Grösse.
Auf den Vorderflügeln zeichnen sich ein grösserer weisser
Flecken, etwa ein Drittel von der Spitze entfernt und nach
dem Vorderrande hinzielend, sowie drei weisse Fleckchen aus,
die in einer Reihe in der Nähe des Aussenrandes stehen. Auf
den Hinterflügeln, etwa ein Drittel vom Aussenrand entfernt,
bilden sechs weisse Fleckchen eine Querreihe. Es ist nicht
unwahrscheinlich, dass die Grundfarbe der Flügel im Leben braun
oder rothbraun war, und man glaubt sogar noch einen schwachen
Schimmer von dieser Farbe wahrzunehmen.

Der Kopf ist etwas zerdrückt und zeigt zwei ziemlich lange,
zugespitzte, in die Höhe gerichtete Taster, von denen der eine
vom Kopf getrennt liegt. Oben am Kopf ist noch ein Auge und
unten die in einen Bogen aufgerollte Zunge sichtbar. Die Brust
ist undeutlich, der Hinterleib fast ganz durch die Flügel
gedeckt, und von den Beinen sind nur Bruchstücke vorhanden.

Dark brown or blackish with light markings. On the upper half of the fore wing (Pl. III, fig. 12), both above and below, the following markings are found: a small quadrate spot on the costal border at the extremity of the costal fold; depending from the costal border between the tips of the second and third superior subcostal nervures a confluent series of spots extending to the cell at right angles to the costal margin, narrowing a little in passing downward; and midway between this and the outer border, in the upper two subcostal interspaces opening on the outer border, a small round spot; probably similar spots belong in some of the interspaces below. On the under surface of the hind wings there is a submarginal series of three small spots along the costa at equal distances apart, the central one near the middle of the costa, and the basal one nearly midway between it and the base of the wing; there is also a larger spot near the tip of the cell and a second smaller one a little below and beyond it; also a submarginal series of spots as large as that in the cell parallel to the outer border, at about an interspace’s distance from it, one in each interspace. Length of fore wing, 14mm.; length of hind wing, 13·65mm.; extreme breadth of hind wing, 11·25mm..