Swallowtail butterflies

A Madagascan giant swallowtail (Papilio antenor) in flight and another butterfly of the same genus (Papilio antiphus) is perched on a leaf in Edward Donovan's 'An epitome of the natural history of the insects of India, and the islands in the Indian Seas'.

Edward Donovan (1768-1837) was a natural history illustrator, amateur zoologist and writer. The engravings in these books were hand coloured by Donovan and a team of employees, using thick paints, burnished highlights, albumen overglazes and metallic paints.

'Insects of India' was the first European entomology publication for India.