WHITE ADMIRAL PURPLE EMPEROJB 113 



Localities: Colchester; Epping; Hartley Wood, 

 near St. Osyth, Essex ; near Rye, 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 conies "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 on a stile which commanded a well-known resort 

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

 would he feast his eyes on the sight of her inimitably 

 elegant, evolutions. 



THE PURPLE EMPEROR . 

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



Bt 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 ia 

 enough to fire the collector with enthusiastic ambition 



