'WHITE ADMIRAL PURINE EMPEROR. 113 



Localities : — Colchester ; Epping ; Hartley Wood, 

 near St. Osyth, Essex ; near Eye, and in other parts of 

 Sussex ; at several places in Kent ; near Winchester ; 

 and in Black Park, where Dr. Allchin informs me he 

 took a large number in one day. 



The superlatively graceful motions of this butterfly 

 on the wing, as it comes floating and sailing through 

 the wood openings, have long been celebrated; and the 

 story has been often quoted from Haworth, of the old 

 fly-fancier, who, long after he had become too feeble 

 and stiff-jointed to pursue or net a butterfly, used to go 

 and sit t m a stile which commanded a well-known resort 

 of his favourite Syhilla, and there, for hours together, 

 would he feast his eyes on the sight of her inimitably 

 elegant evolutions. 



4* . 



THE PUKPLE EMPEROR. 



(Apatura Iris.) (Plate VII. fig. 2.) 



Bi universal suffrage, the place of highest rank among 

 the butterflies of Britain has been accorded to this 

 splendid insect, who merits his imperial title by reason 

 of his robe of royal purple, the lofty throne he assumes, 

 and the boldness and elevation of his flight. 



A glimpse of this august personage on the wing is 

 enough to fire the collector with enthusiastic ambition 



