177 



PURPLE EMPEROR. 



Apatura Iris. 



PLATE XXI. 



Pap. Iris, Linn. — Donovan, pi. 37. <$ — Lewin, pi. 16 — The 

 Purple Emperor, Harris — Purple Highflyer, Wilkes. 



Antennae long, the club elongate-ovate and con- 

 cave : palpi long, and projecting beyond the head, 

 where they meet and form a kind of beak ; the basal 

 and terminal joints nearly of equal length, the latter 

 conical, the intermediate one very long, slender, and 

 curved : wings somewhat triangular, the edge of the 

 primary pair nearly entire, the others slightly scol- 

 loped : eyes not pubescent ; the anterior legs small 

 and imperfect in both sexes. The caterpillar has 

 the head divided behind into two long horns (PI. III. 

 6g. 6). The chrysalis has the head piece bifid, and 

 is suspended by the tail. 



The surface of the wings, in the species above 

 named, is dark brown, changing when seen in 

 certain lights into purplish-blue of a very rich 

 tint. This brilliant reflection is not visible in the 

 female, and that sex is also distinguished by the 

 wings being of a paler brown, and having two ad 



M 



