Volume 2

The natural history of British insects. Explaining them in their several states, with the periods of their transformations, their food, oeconomy, &c. together with the history of such minute insects as require investigation by the microscope : the whole illustrated by coloured figures, designed and executed from living specimens / by E. Donovan.

  • Donovan, E. (Edward), 1768-1837.
Date:
1792-1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural history of British insects. Explaining them in their several states, with the periods of their transformations, their food, oeconomy, &c. together with the history of such minute insects as require investigation by the microscope : the whole illustrated by coloured figures, designed and executed from living specimens / by E. Donovan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    + Plate xxxvif. tific will be ever ready to give it the firft place as a Britifh Papilio* and to thefe a figure of the Caterpillar and Chryfalis will be an ac- ceptable acquifition. It derives the title of Purple High Flyer, as it very rarely defeends to the ground; except in fome few inftances, it has never been taken but ill the moil elevated fituations, and even thofe inftances have been after a ftrong wind, or heavy rain : The tops of the loftieft foreft trees afford it an afylilm, and in the Caterpillar and Chryfalis ftate, it is prcfervtfd from the wanton cruelty of man, by the almoft inaccef'ible height of its habitation. They feed on the Sallow, falix caprea, and the Caterpillars are obtained by beating the branches of the tree with a pole twenty or thirty feet in length ; it is then but a ncccffary precaution to cover the ground beneath with large fhcets to a certain diftance, or the infedts. which fall, will be loft among the herbage. It is in Caterpillar about May and June ; it paffes to the Chryfalis ftate, and in July or Augujl is a Papilio. The great difficulty and trouble to rear the Caterpillars, when found; and greater difficulty to take the h ly, has ftampsd a valuable confi- deration on it, and particularly fo when fine, and a high price is but efteemed an adequate compenfation for it if in good prefervation. The male is fmaller, but more beautiful than the female; the upper fide of the wings of the female not being enriched with that vivid change of purple which the male poffefics in fuch an eminent degree; but the underfide of the female is far richer in the various teints of colour than the male : they are both beautifully fpotted, mottled, and waved with brown, black, white, and orange. 1 he Chryfalis is of a very delicate texture, much refembling thin white papci, and is tii.gcd in fetfei*af parts with a very lively purple hue winch it boirows iiom Yhe wings of the encloled infect, and bears the characieriftic martc of a Papilio, by being., fufpended fiom the tail, with the head downward. PLATE