

PURPLE EMPEROR BUTTERFLY. 203 



wings. The females, though larger in size, have wings of a 

 dull brown. The purple emperor takes its station at the top of 

 the tallest oak and rarely descends to earth. The female is 

 more stay-at-home than the male, and is very rarely caught. 

 The insect would be far oftener seen than caught if it were 

 not for its habit of alighting upon carrion, and collectors 

 take advantage of this low taste, and lie in wait for it, and 

 catch it in the act. The caterpillar is a plump creature, with a 

 tail running to a point, and a pair of horns or tentacles on its 

 head. It is bright green in colour, striped with yellow down 

 each side, and it feeds upon the willow. In the south of Eng- 

 land this butterfly is not uncommon, but as you go north it 

 becomes rarer. 



Frank and Jimmy accompanied Dick to the park where the 

 oak-trees were, keeping at a respectable distance to windward 

 of him. The carcase was deposited beneath the tree where 

 Dick had seen the purple emperor, 3,nd they sat down behind 

 another tree to wait the course of events. Two hours passed 

 away without any sign of the butterfly, but time was no object 

 with the boys, who found it pleasant enough to lie on the cool 

 grass in the shadow of the oaks, and listen to the murmur of 

 woodland sounds. Squirrels and rabbits played about them, 

 and birds fluttered in the trees overhead. The cushat uttered 

 her sleepy moan, and then woke up and flew away on 

 lazy wing to the corn-fields, whence came the sound of the 

 sharpening of scythes. The rattle of the woodpecker tapping 

 the hollow trees was the loudest sound which disturbed the 

 silent, broiling afternoon. The three friends were stretched on 

 the ground talking quietly, and half disposed to doze, every 

 now and then casting glances at the dead dog. Suddenly 

 down a lane of sunlight there fluttered a shimmering purple 

 thing which settled on the carcase, and stayed there, opening 

 and shutting its wings, and sending scintillations of purple light 

 through the green shadows. 



" There it is ! " said Dick excitedly, and he got hold of his 

 net. 



" Don't be in a hurry, Dick ; wait until it feels secure and 

 gorges itself a bit," said Frank. 



Dick listened to his sound counsel, and waited as patiently 

 as he could for a few minutes, and then he raised his net, 

 and with a single leap reached the spot where the carcase 



