PURPLE EMPEROR. 87 



that the noighhouring locality affords him. There he sits, 

 generally with his attention directed outwards, as an Island 

 King's should be, conscious that at home he is secure. If a 

 rival approaches, a fight is of course the consequence — 'Pares 

 cum Paribus;' and "O 'tis a goodly sight to see!" 



The caterpillar is to be found at the end of May. 



It feeds on the broad-leaved sallow. 



The wings expand to the width of from two inches and 

 three-quarters to three and a quarter. The fore wings are of 

 a blackish hue, with a most splendid purple iridescent colour 

 apparent in a proper light. In the middle and towards the 

 outer margin at the tip, are three series of white spots, tw^o, 

 five, and two, the inner ones conjoined forming the waved 

 upper end of a bar which runs nearly across the hind wings. 

 In these wings the same splendid purple colour is observable, 

 though scarcely so objectively; in some lights they too are dull 

 "lack-lustre" black. A fulvous line follows the margin, and 

 within its outer corner is a small obscure fulvous spot. Near 

 the lower corner is a fine eye — a black pupil with a light centre 

 and an orange rim — and outside it some fine fulvous marks. 



Underneath, the fore wings are varied with silvery greyish 

 white, grey, orange, fulvous, and black, a white band, formed 

 of interrupted spots, running irregularly across them, behind 

 which is a black eye, with a lilac-coloured centre, surrounded 

 by a broad orange circle, in which are two white spots. The 

 hind wings are grey, with a broad silvery greyish white bar 

 across them, tapering towards the corner, with a broad ferru- 

 ginous adjoining band on each side, but much the least distinct 

 on the inner. The corner is also ferruginous, and above it is 

 a black eyelet, with a lilac-coloured pupil and orange centre. 



The wings of the female are of a general blackish brown 

 ground colour, and the markings the same as in the male. 

 The larger of the measurements given above are hers. 



The caterpillar is green, with pale yellow oblique lines. 



The chrysalis is of a pale green colour. 



The plate is from a specimen in my cabinet — the one cap- 

 tured bv the Rev. William Brce. 



