164 Lloyd's natural history. 



Apatura iris, Steph., 111. Brit. Ent. Haust., i., p. 50 (1027); 

 Curtis, Brit. Ent., viii., pi. 338 (183 1); Kirov, Eur. Butter- 

 flies and Moths, p. 24, pi. 11, figs. 2, a-c (1878); Lang, 

 Butterflies of Europe, p. 156, pi. 34, fig. 2, pi. 36, fig. 2 

 (18S3); Buckler, Larva? of Brit. Butterflies and Moths, 

 i., p. 42, pi. 7, fig. 2 (1886); Barrett, Lepid. Brit. Isl., i., 

 p. 105, pi. 16 (1892). 



Var., Apatura iole. 



Papilio iole, Den. and Schiff., Syst. Verz. Schmett. Wien, p. 



172, no. 3 (1776) ; Esper, Schmett., i. (1), p. 376, pi. 46, 



fig. 1(1778?). 

 Papilio iris, Esper, Schmett., i. (1), pp. 109, 114, pi. 71, fig. 1 • 



pi. 72, fig. 1 (1781). 

 Papilio beroe, Fabr., Ent. Syst., iii. (1), p. 111, no. 341 (1793). 



The Purple Emperor appears to be almost confined in 

 England to the south-eastern counties, and it is doubtful 

 whether it has ever been taken as far north as Yorkshire. It 

 is only to be found in large old woods, where these still exist. 

 Although the caterpillar feeds on sallow, the Butterfly, which 

 appears in July, is fond of flying about the tops of tall trees, 

 especially oaks. It is still fairly plentiful in suitable localities, 

 though no longer found close to London, as was the case less 

 than a century ago. 



The Purple Emperor measures from two inches and a half 

 to three inches and upwards across the wings, which are dark 

 brown in the male, shot with brilliant purplish-blue, except on 

 the hind-margins, which are of a light brown. There are 

 several white spots towards the tips of the fore-wings, and also 

 some larger ones running from the middle of the wing to the 

 inner-margin, and continued as a slightly curved band across 

 the hind-wings. Towards the hinder angle of the fore-wings is 

 a rather indistinct round black spot, and towards the anal 



