112 LOVERS OF THE LIGHT. 



should otherwise, in mention of the adult Lepidopterse of the 

 oak, have given honour due to the " Purple Emperor" that 

 princely Butterfly, to whom the oak tree furnishes, successively, 

 a nursery and a throne. As a green Caterpillar, dotted with 

 black and distinguished by horns, he feeds upon the leaves, 

 changes next into a green chrysalis, and, attaining in July to 

 the winged glory of his regal purple, cleaves the air in flights 

 high and rapid as a bird of prey ; but ever and anon returns to 

 his lofty throne on the summit of the paternal tree, there 

 to rejoin his empress, who is accustomed as becomes her- 

 to abide at home in domestic dignity. 



We have talked about the " Emperor's* royal purple; 

 but when in his royal presence you may possibly declare thai 

 his robes are only brown. Now if, on these his robes or 

 pinions, we chose to pin a disputation, the Chameleon's self, 

 as fabled, could not have afforded a better theme. But rather 

 than quarrel on our subject, suppose we turn it towards the 

 light, and from it, and then we shall both agree that our 

 " Emperor's ' wings are, in one position, of the darkest brown 

 in another, of the most resplendent purple. 



Besides this monarch of English Butterflies, two other of 

 our latest and handsomest, the Admiral * and Peacock's Eye f, 

 are frequently found veiling their glories from the September 

 sun on the trunk or branches of the oak, or sipping in October 

 the honeyed blossoms of the ivy. 



* Vanessa Atalanta . f Vanessa lo. 





