17'2 



BRITISH BUTTERFLIES 



They feed on till the leaves are falling, and then fix themselves by 

 their claspers to a silken carpet which they construct on a twig. Here 

 they remain, exposed to all the wintry blasts and frosts, till the new 

 leaves are out in the spring, when they again commence feeding, and 

 continue to do so till they are full grown in May or June. 



The under side of this species is shown in fig. 76, in which will 

 also be observed the eye-like spots of the fore wings which have 

 given rise to its specific name (Iris}. 



The caterpillar (Plate VIII, fig. 5) is a very peculiar creature. 



FIG. 76. THE PURPLE EMPEROR UNDER SIDE. 



Its body is green, with seven oblique yellowish stripes on each 

 side, and it has a pair of horns attached to its head. 



The chrysalis (Plate VIII, fig. 10) may be found in June, sus- 

 pended to the under side of a leaf. It is of an apple-green colour, 

 and still exhibits the oblique stripes which we observed in the 

 caterpillar. 



This insect is not to be found in either Scotland or Ireland, but 

 is more or less abundant in many of the oak woods of the midland 

 and southern counties of England. Among the numerous favoured 

 localities, we may mention Colchester, Forest of Dean, Northamp- 

 tonshire, Ipswich, Huntingdonshire, Buckinghamshire, Epping, 

 Lyndhurst, and the Isle of Wight. 



