Purple reign

摘要

Elusive, mysterious and regal, the purple emperor should be our national butterfly. It often seems too exotic for our islands, but is British - truly, madly and deeply. 'His Imperial Majesty', as Victorian butterfly collectors called this magnificentinsect, has a unique standing in our natural history, country lore, literature and verse. The butterfly's English name has a real resonance, for in ancient Rome only the emperor himself wore purple. Its scientific name, Apatura iris, also has poetic depth. Iris, who appeared in the guise of a rainbow, was the messenger of the Greek gods, while 'apatura' alludes to the Greek word for deception.