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GENUS. I. BUTTERFLIES. 



SEC. II. PURPLE SHADES. 



The larva is furnished with two horns on the head, refembling the tele- 

 fcopes of the (hail, and the tail is drawn out to a point. It fufpends itfelf by the 

 tail in order to change to chryfalis. 



SEC. II. S P. XIX. PURPLE SHADES, 



PI. 16. 



Iris. Linnœus. 



Purple Emperor. Harris. 



This mod beautiful butterfly is an inhabitant of our woods ; but it is very far 

 from being common : and the rapidity of a flight fo quick, that the eye can 

 fcarcely follow it, and its foaring like a hawk high in the air, makes it very difficult 

 to take, particularly as it rarely fetdes but on the fides or tops of the talleft oak 

 or afh trees. The rarity of finding a caterpillar much adds to the value of a 

 fine fpecimen of this infect. The male is reprefented flying at fig. 3, the fe- 

 male at fig. 4, and the under parts at fig. 5. The caterpillar lives through die 

 winter, and feeds on the fallow trees or buthes, that grow in wet places, in or 

 near woods. It is at its full growth, as at fig. 1, about the firft week in June; 

 when it prepares for its metamorphofis, by fufpending itfelf by the tail, and in 

 twenty-four hours after the chryfalis appears ; from which in the courfe of three 

 weeks the fly is produced, and in a few hours is ready to propagate its fpecies. 



