CLASS V. INSECTA. 
239 
Genus 318. APATURA. Fair., teach. Nymphalis. Latr. Pa- 
pilio- Linn., Hamrrfli. 
Antenna with an elongate-obconic thickened club : palpi with the se- 
cond joint not much compressed, the anterior margin broad : ante- 
rior pair affect very short in both sexes. 
®p. 1. Apa. Iris (purple emperor). Wings indented, brownish, shining, 
with blue or purple ; on both surfaces a whitish interrupted fascia 
and a single ocellus on the under wing. 
The following account of this interesting and elegant insect is 
given by Mr. Haworth. 
“ In the month of July he makes his appearance in the winged 
state, and invariably fixes his throne upon the summit of a lofty oak, 
from the utmost sprigs of which, on sunny days, he performs his 
aerial excursions; and in these ascends to a much greater elevation 
than any other insect I have ever seen, sometimes mounting higher 
than the eye can follow, especially if he happens to quarrel with 
another emperor, the monarch of some neighbouring oak: they 
never meet without a battle, flying upwards all the while and com- 
bating with each other as much as possible, after which they will 
frequently return again to the identical sprigs from 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 powerful flight which is so much admired by entomologists, fhe 
Purple Emperor commences his aerial movements from ten to twelve 
o’clock in the morning, but does not. perform his loftiest flights till 
noon, decreasing them after this hour until he quite ceases to fly 
about four in the afternoon; thus emulating the motions of that 
source of all his strength, the sun. 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 is their being destitute 
of a certain spiral socket which the males possess, near the base of 
the main tendon of their upper wings; which socket receives and 
works a strong elastic spring arising from the base of the under 
wings, thereby enabling them to perform a stronger, longer, and 
more easy flight than it is possible for the females to do.” 
“ The ’mal es usually fly very high, and arc only to be taken by a 
hag-net fixed to the end of a rod twenty or thirty feet long. There 
have been instances, though very rare, of their settling on the ground 
near puddles of water, and being taken there. When the Purple 
Emperor is within reach, no fly is more easily taken than he; 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. 
