504 THE PURPLE EMPEROR — PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. 



their body near the head ; and thus firmly secured, they hang a fe-w 

 Lours, when the chrysalis becomes perfectly formed, and divested of 

 the caterpillar's skin. In fourteen days after this, the Butterfly ia 

 produced. The caterpillars of this latter brood attain their growth, 

 and change to chrysalids in September, in which state they remain 

 through the. winter, till the beginning of the following May. During 

 this time we often see them hanging under the copings of garden 

 walls, under pales, and in other places, where they can have tolerablo 

 shelter from the inclemency of the weather. 



The most effectual way of clearing cabbage and cauliflower plants 

 of caterpillers, is to send children into the gardens, to pick them off 

 and destroy them. This may seem a troublesome and expensive 

 mode ; but it has been found to answer, even to the extent of clearing 

 many acres of field cabbages. 



THE PURPLE EMPEROR. 



The wings are indented and of a rich brown color, with a blu« 

 gloss, and have a whitish interrupted band on each side. On the 

 upper part of the under wing there is an eye-like spot. 



This is the most beautiful and most interesting of all the British 

 butterflies. In its manners, as well as in the varying lustre of its 

 purple plumes, it possesses the strongest claim to our attention. 



It makes its appearance about the month of July, fixes its residence 

 upon the summit of some lofty oak, from the utmost sprigs of which, 

 in sunny days, it performs its aerial excursions. "In these," continues 

 this writer, " he ascends to a much greater elevation than any insect 

 I have ever seen ; sometimes mounting even higher than the eye can 

 follow, especially if he happen to quarrel with another Emperor, the 

 monarch of some neighboring oak. These insects never meet without 

 a battle, flying upward all the while, and combating furiously with 

 each other: after which they frequently return to the identical sprigs 

 from which they each ascended. 



The caterpillar is green, with oblique white lines. It is rough on 

 the upper part of the body; and on the head thore are two spines. It 

 feeds on the oak. The chrysalis is green, has two horns, and is some- 

 what compressed. 



THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. 



The caterpillars of this butterfly are produced from eggs, which 

 have been deposited in the spring of the year 

 on the nettle. They live in society, and are 

 to be found, throughout the early part of the 

 summer, feeding on this plant. They are 

 black, and their bodies are covered with 

 spines, and marked with numerous small 

 white specks. 

 ; PKAcocK BCTTBMLi. Shortly after the little animals first see th« 



