TRANSMUTABLE, 175 



While on the subject of insects, I will detail 

 some interesting points in the economy of two 

 of our most beautiful butterflies, namely, the 

 White Admiral, and the Purple Emperor. For 

 these particulars, not hitherto published, I am also 

 indebted to my friend Dr. Maclean, who has been 

 a close and accurate observer of the habits of 

 insects, and who has not only shewn me most 

 of what follows, but has kindly allowed me to 

 make use of his notes. In the whole field of 

 nature there is nothing more beautiful or exciting 

 to an entomologist than a sight of these two 

 magnificent butterflies, gliding along the views 

 of a wood, or over the tops of the highest oak 

 trees, in a hot summer's day. They are closely 

 allied in form and habit, so much so, as to have 

 been classed by many naturalists in the same 

 family ; but they differ essentially in their economy 

 and larvae. 



The white admiral, (Limenitis sibylla,) deposits 

 its egg, (which is in shape something like a 

 modern sea-urchin, and covered with angular 

 plates,) in the month of July, on the upper sur- 

 face of the leaves of the common honey-suckle, in 

 the thick high-slop of the woods; only one egg 

 on each leaf. In about a fortnight the eggs 

 hatch, and the young caterpillar commences life 

 on its own account. It invariably crawls to the 

 distal end of the leaf, and very carefully avoids 

 the midrib, feeding upon the soft portions on each 

 side. Now every botanist knows that the honey- 

 suckle is deciduous, and casts off its leaves in 



