THE PURPLE EMPEROR 
185 
measures, while crawling, 44 mm. long ; the female larva 
rather more. In general shape the larva is very slug-like, 
both ends being attenuated. On the head are two horns, in 
shape very like those of a slug; they are 6*30 mm. long, tapering 
and slightly cleft and knobbed at the tips ; being elongations 
of the notched crown, they are immovable. 
Both head and horns are 
densely sprinkled with raised 
points, each emitting a fine 
white hair ; the colour of 
both is light greenish-blue, 
and the knobs of the horns 
are rust - red. The body 
is finely granulated and 
sprinkled over with white 
points. Over the first three 
segments is a sub-dorsal yel¬ 
low line, followed by six 
oblique, lateral, pale yellow 
lines. On the seventh seg¬ 
ment on each side of an in¬ 
distinct medio-dorsal line are 
three lemon-yellow tuber¬ 
cles, and a small blue mark 
bordered below by whitish. 
The larva rests along the 
mid-rib of the leaf, upon a 
layer of silk, with its head 
pointing to the stalk. It 
feeds rapidly and after each 
meal it returns to its resting 
place. If touched, it vio¬ 
lently sweeps round the anterior half of the body from side 
to side, as if to strike away an enemy with its horns. 
When preparing for pupation, the larva spins a layer of 
silk down the centre of.the leaf, usually on the under side; 
the stalk is very carefully spun to the stem to prevent it 
from falling off. It rests for two days with its head towards 
the stem ; it then turns round and rests head downwards 
for two more days and finally pupates. Sometimes in cap- 
The Purple Emperor just emerging, 
and drying its wings. Sketched from 
life. 
