92 IIUITEUFLY COLLECTOtt'S 



CuteriMar. Of a beautifal green, with reddish bristles at 

 the tail, homs greeiiisli yellow. 



Chrysalis. I'ale green. 



Obserualion. " ThisJPurple Emperor of the British oaks,'' 

 observes Haworth,* " is not undeservedly the greatest 

 favourite of our English Aurelians. In his manners, like- 

 wise, as well as in the varying lustres of liis piiri)le phiraes, 

 he possesses the strongest claims to llieir particular atten- 

 tion. In the montli of July he makes his appearance in the 

 winged state, and invai-iably fixes his throne upon the sum- 

 mit of a lofty oak, from the utmost sprigs of which, on 

 sunny days, he performs his aerial excursions; vvlien the 

 smi is at the meridian, his loftiest flights take place, and 

 about four in the afternoon, he resumes his station of repose. 

 He ascends to a much greater elevation than any other 

 insect ; sometimes mounting higher than tlie eye can follow, 

 especially if he happens to quarrel witli another Emperor, 

 the monarch of some neighbouring oak ; they never meet 

 witliout a battle, flying upwards all the while, and combat- 

 ing vntli each other as much as possible ; after which they 

 will frequently return again to the identical sprigs fi-om 

 whence they ascended. The wings of this fine species arc 

 of a stronger texture than those of any other in Britain, and 

 more calculated for that gay and powerftil fliglit, which is so 

 much admired by Entomologists. The females, like those of 

 many other species, are very rarely seen on the wing ; the 

 reason of which is both interesting and but little known. It 

 Ls their being destitute of a certain spirul socket, which the 

 males possess near the basis of the main tendon of the upper 

 wings ; which soc/cct receives and works a strong elastic 

 spring, arishig from tlie base of the under wings ; thereby 



• hcpidopteru Bjitunnicai p. ly. 



