24 European- Butterflies and Moths. 



on the hind-wings. Expands from 2\ to 3 inches. Erroneously reputed British, but generally 

 distributed in Central and Northern Europe, except the north-west ; it is also said to occur 

 in the Altai. It is common in some seasons and in some localities, but is generally rather 

 scarce. It is found in woods in June, where it settles on wet paths, &c., in the morning, 

 before ten o'clock, and again in the evening, to suck up the moisture. It also settles on 

 the dung of animals, and may be attracted by strongly-smelling cheese. In the middle of 

 the day the butterfly flies round the tops of the trees, and settles on high branches, like 

 Apatnra Iris. The female is rarer than the male, because she descends less frequently from 

 the tops of the trees. Larva green, darker and paler mixed, with two rows of short fleshy 

 humps covered with hair. Those on the second segment are large and club-shaped. It feeds 

 on white poplar and aspen in May. The young larvae pass the winter between dry rolled- 

 up leaves of the food-plant, and are easily to be found in this situation in winter or early 

 spring. The transformations are figured on PI. 11, Fig. i, a — d. 



GENUS VI. — .\PATUR.\ (FABR.). 



Large butterflies, of a blackish-brown colour above, shot with purple or violet in the 

 males. The fore-wings have large white or yellow spots, and the hind-wings a band of the 

 same colour beyond the middle ; and the border of the former is slightly concave. There is 

 a large eye-spot near the hinder angle of the fore-wings, and a small one in a similar position 

 on the hind-wings, at least on the under surface. Tlie larva is stout, and attenuated behind, 

 with a forked tail, and two large triangular horns on the head. It hybernatcs when small, 

 and is full grown in May. The pupa has also two projections from the head. The butterflies 

 are found in woods in June and July, and resemble Linienitis Populi in their habits. The genus 

 Apatnra, though not very numerous in species, has representatives in all parts of the world except 

 Africa and Australia ; but, as is usually the case when the same genera have an extensive range, 

 the tropical species of Apatnra rarely surpass our own in either size or beauty, and are often 

 much inferior to them in both respects. 



* I. A. Iris (Linn.), {Pnrplc Emperor). — Blackish-brown above, shot with rich purple in the 

 male. Fore-wings spotted with white, hind-vv'ngs with a white band, nearly straight inside and 

 with a short projection on the middle outside. There is a black eye-spot in an orange ring, with 

 a very small white dot in the centre, near the hinder angle of the hind-wings. Under side varied 

 with diff"erent shades of grey, brown, black, and tawny, the white markings as above. A black 

 eye-spot with a large blue pupil in a tawny ring near the hinder angle of each wing ; that on the 

 fore-wings is very large, and two of the white spots are placed upon the outer curve of the tawny 

 ring ; the eye on the hind-wings is small, and the outer ring is not marked with white. In the 

 variety lole (W. V.) the white markings of the upper side are obsolete. Expands from 2 to 3^ 

 inches. Appears to be confined to Central Europe (including the south-eastern counties of 

 England, as far north as the H umber), and in many localities common, but difficult to capture, 

 as it frequents the tops of the loftiest forest-trees. It sometimes descends to the ground in wet 

 places, to imbibe the moisture ; and a German entomologist has lately recorded that, when 

 collecting in Russia on a very hot day, when he was covered with perspiration, numbers of ^. Iris 

 flew round him, and settled on his clothes. It is also attracted by dung and carrion. The latter 

 substance is generally employed by English collectors as a bait, with great success. The variety 

 lole is always rare, and occurs only singly. The male Iris is much more frequently seen and 

 taken than the female, which is more retired in her habits. The larva is green, shagreened with 



