THE PURPLE EMPEROR 
183 
hibernaculum, its protective colouring is perfect. While in 
this torpid state the larva is 9 mm. in length. At the be¬ 
ginning of March, before awakening, the larva gradually 
assumes a greener hue, which increases in brilliancy as the 
Sallow buds develop, and both become green at the same 
time ; the elongated buds closely resemble the larva. It 
leaves its hibernaculum at the end of March, having remained 
torpid for about five months. 
Egg Laying. When intent on laying her eggs, the butterfly 
boldly flies into a Sallow bush, generally disappearing from 
view. The older local collectors in the New Forest called 
this habit of the female “ striking 
the tree/ 1 Usually the eggs are 
laid on the inner foliage, also 
sometimes on the outer sprays 
and fully exposed, but are always 
laid upon the upper surface of 
the leaf. In depositing, the 
female settles on a leaf, lowers 
her abdomen, the extremity 
touching the upper surface, and 
after remaining motionless for 
eight or ten seconds, deposits an 
egg and flies off. 
Egg. The eggs are laid singly 
and are usually deposited during 
the end of July and first half of 
August. The egg is 1 mm. high 
and of the same width. It is of a blunt conical shape, widest 
at the base, which is rounded and firmly embedded in glutin. 
There are fourteen longitudinal keels, running from the crown 
to the base. These are curiously constructed, each being 
formed of very finely serrated longitudinal ridges ; the two 
outer ones are united at each end. The spaces between the 
keels are concave and finely reticulated, and become developed 
into fine transverse ribs near the base. When first loid, the 
egg is of a pale ochreous-green colour. On the fifth day a 
dull purplish zone encircles it just above the base ; the ground 
colour remains unchanged. On the tenth day it is more of 
an opaque ochreous, and the zone darker, which disappears 
The Purple Emperor [Male ab. iole, 
captured atChattenden, Kent, 1866). 
