The caterpillar I have copied from Hlibner ; it feeds upon the 

 broad-leaved Sallow, and is found the end of May ; the but- 

 terfly inhabits woods and forests. 



As I have seen only one specimen of this beautiful Papillo 

 alive, I shall transcribe Mr. Haworth's observations upon the 

 species. 



" In the month of July the purple Emperor makes his ap- 

 pearance in the wiufred state, and invariably fixes his throne 

 upon the summit of a lofty oak, from the utmost sprigs of 

 which, on sunny days, he performs his aerial excursions ; and 

 in these, ascends to a much greater elevation than any other 

 insect I have ever seen, sometimes mounting higher than the 

 eye can follow; especially if he happens to quarrel with an- 

 other Emperor', the monarch of some neighbouring oak : they 

 never meet without a battle, flying upwards all the while, and 

 combating with each other as much as possible; after which 

 they will frequently return again to the identical sprigs from 

 whence they ascended. The wings of this fine species are of a 

 stronger texture than those of any other in Britain, and more 

 calculated for that gay and powerful flight which is so much 

 admired by Entomologists. The purple Emperor commences 

 his aerial movements from 10 to 12 o'clock in the morning, 

 but does not perform his loftiest flights till noon, decreasing 

 them after this hour, until he quite ceases to fly, about 4 in 

 the afternoon : thus emulating the motions of that source of all 

 his strength, the sun. The females, like those of many other 

 species, are very rarely seen on the wing: the reason of which 

 is both interesting and but little known. ]t is their being de- 

 stitute of a certain spiral socket, which the males possess near 

 the base of the main tendon of their upper wings; which socket 

 receives and works a strong elastic spring arising from the 

 base of the under wings; thereby enabling them to perform 

 a stronger, longer, and more easy flight than it is possible for 

 the females to do. 



"The males usually fly very high, and are only to betaken by 

 a bag-net fixed to the end of a rod twenty or thirty feet long. 

 There have been instances, though very rare, of their settling 

 on tlie ground near puddles of water, and being taken there. 

 When the purple Emperor is within reach, no fly is more 

 easily taken than it ; for he is so very bold and fearless, that 

 he will not move from his settling-place until you quite push 

 him off': you may even tip the ends of his wings, and be suf- 

 fered to strike again." — Lep. Brit, p, 19. 



