80 PURPLE EMPEBOB. 



oak or other tree — an elm or an ash — the highest that the neighbouring 

 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 caterjiillar 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, two, five, and two, the inner ones con- 

 joined forming the waved upper end of a bar which run nearly across 

 the hind wings. lu 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 oye — 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 ferruginous 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 arc 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 captured by 

 the Rev. William Bree. 



