APATURA. 163 



the ground near puddles of water, and being taken there. When 

 the Purple Emperor is within reach, no fly is more easily taken 

 than him; for he is so very bold and fearless that he will not move 

 from his settling-place until you quite push him off; you may 

 even tip the ends of his wings, and be suffered to strike again." 



In the satirical poems of " Peter Pindar " (Dr. John Wolcott) 

 published at the end of the last century, there is an amusing 

 story of a tulip-fancier and an entomologist, and there seems to 

 be no doubt that the Butterfly referred to is the Purple Emperor, 

 though it is not a very likely Butterfly to be found in a flower- 

 garden, and still less so to lead an entomologist a wild-goose 

 chase over the beds ; for if startled, it would probably soar 

 away at once to the nearest high tree in the neighbourhood. I 

 know of no Butterfly called " The Emperor of Morocco " in 

 any entomological work. 



The tulip-fancier was showing the entomologist his garden, 

 and was descanting on his treasures, 



"When from a heap of dung, or some such thing, 

 An Emperor of Morocco reared his wing." 



The entomologist rushed after it, trampling down all the 

 tulips, regardless of the shouts of his friend, who came up with 

 him at last, just as he had lost sight of the Butterfly. 



" Did you not see him ? " asked the entomologist. " Who ? 

 What ? " asked the distracted tulip-fancier. " The Emperor of 

 Morocco," replied the entomologist. The tulip-fancier mourn- 

 fully relaxed his grasp, murmuring: 



*' Mad, madder than the maddest of March hares 1 " 



THE PURPLE EMPEROR. APATURA IRIS. 

 (Plate XXIV. ; larva, Plate III., Fig. 6.) 



Papilio iris, Linn., Syst. Nat. (x,), i., p. 476, no. no (1758); 

 Esper, Schmett., i* (i), p. 139, pi. n, fig. i (1777) ; i. (2), 

 p. 109, pi. 71, fig. 4(*7 81 )- 



