PURPLE EMPEROR. 
179 
This fine insect, which is highly prized by collec- 
tors both for its beauty, and the difficulty with which 
it is obtained, has been occasionally found in many 
of the southern counties of England, but it does not 
extend far to the north. It has been found in some 
plenty in Coombe-wood, Great and Little Stour 
Woods, in Essex, Dodnash and Raydon Woods, in 
Suffolk, &c. Owing to the strength and thickness 
of its wings it is enabled to fly with greater velocity 
than any other British butterfly, and to maintain a 
lofty and continuous flight almost like the soaring of 
a bird of prey. Its habits have been so well de- 
scribed by Haworth in his Lepidoptera Britannica, 
that we cannot refrain from extracting the passage. 
“ The Purple Emperor of the British Oaks is not 
undeservedly the greatest favourite of our English 
Aurelians. In his manners likewise, as well as in the 
varying lustre of his purple plumes, he possesses the 
strongest claims to their particular attention. In the 
month of July he makes his appearance in the winged 
state, and invariably 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; 
when the sun is at the meridian, his loftiest flights 
take place, and about four in the afternoon he re- 
sumes his station of repose. He ascends to a much 
greater elevation than any other insect, 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 
