These large and well-known families well represent the general
character of the zoology of Celebes; and they show that this
island is really one of the most isolated portions of the
Archipelago, although situated in its very centre.
But the insects of Celebes present us with other phenomena more
curious and more difficult to explain than their striking
individuality. The butterflies of that island are in many cases
characterised by a peculiarity of outline, which distinguishes
them at a glance from those of any other part of the world. It is
most strongly manifested in the Papilios and the Pieridae, and
consists in the forewings being either strongly curved or
abruptly bent near the base, or in the extremity being elongated
and often somewhat hooked. Out of the 14 species of Papilio in
Celebes, 13 exhibit this peculiarity in a greater or less degree,
when compared with the most nearly allied species of the
surrounding islands. Ten species of Pieridae have the same
character, and in four or five of the Nymphalidae it is also very
distinctly marked. In almost every case, the species found in
Celebes are much larger than thane of the islands westward, and
at least equal to those of the Moluccas, or even larger. The
difference of form is, however, the most remarkable feature, as it
is altogether a new thing for a whole set of species in one
country to differ in exactly the same way from the corresponding
sets in all the surrounding countries; and it is so well marked,
that without looking at the details of colouring, most Celebes
Papilios and many Pieridae, can be at once distinguished from
those of other islands by their form alone.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 388 of 419
Words from 105476 to 105799
of 114260
