&4 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



which. I believe that by far the greater number of 

 recent captures have been made. 



The plan alluded to, is to take advantage .of the 

 creature's royal taste for game for in that light I take 

 his predilection for decomposing animal matter, now a 

 matter of notoriety ; and so potent is the attraction of 

 the haut-gout for the royal palate, that if any animal, 

 or part of one, not too recently slaughtered, be sus- 

 pended near the known haunts of the insect, ten to one 

 but its savour will bring him down to earth to taste the 

 luxurious morsel, and so engrossed does he become when 

 thus engaged, that he may be swept off by the net 

 without difficulty. In the space of two or three days 

 large numbers of Emperors have been caught by means 

 of this novel and singular trap, and the seemingly 

 coarse and unbutterny-like taste that leads them to it. 



The wings of the male only have that splendid glow 

 of changing purple that gives him his name and 

 honours, the empress having in its place a sober garb 

 of brown ; she, however, considerably exceeds her lord 

 in dimensions and expanse of wing. From her stay-at- 

 home habits, sitting all day in her oak-leaf bower, she 

 is comparatively seldom seen or captured. I believe 

 collectors generally take about ten males to one female. 



On the under side the colouring of both sexes is 

 similar, and affords a striking contrast to the dark 

 upper surface, having the white markings arranged as 

 on the upper side, but rather broader ; and, instead of 

 the dark brown or purple, a lively pattern of orange- 

 brown, greyish brown, and black. On the front wing is 

 a purple-centred eye-spot, and a smaller one is seen 

 near the lower angle of the hind wing. 



The firm, muscular appearance of the wings, gives 

 promise of great strength in those organs, fully borne 

 out in the powerful and bird-like flight of the creature, 

 who has also a habit of soaring, about midday, to vast 

 heights in the air, and there engaging in contests, 

 sportive or pugnacious, with his brother, or rival, 

 Emperors. 



