Post by Andorinha on Feb 14, 2007 19:58:55 GMT -6
In The Hobbit, chapter 8, "Flies and Spiders," Tolkien reveals a bit of his own interest in nature studies when he has Bilbo climb up to the top of the forest canopy where "he saw all round him a sea of dark green, ... and there were everywhere hundreds of butterflies. I expect they were a kind of 'purple emperor', a butterfly that loves the tops of oak-woods, but these were not purple at all, they were a dark velvety black without any markings to be seen." (Annt Hobbit, pp. 200-01)
Douglas A. Anderson kindly inclues a drawing of the purple emperor on p. 201, but this hardly does the creature justice. A full colour representation can be found on BBC4 Radio's "Nature" -- "In Search of the Emperor"*
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/nature_2006918.shtml
Then, during a disscusion of "Woodland Butterflies," at
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/livingworld_20040829.shtml
the narrator, BRETT WESTWOOD, mentions this very passage from The Hobbit. Apparently outdoor enthusiasts in Britain do read JRRT! Just above Brett's picture there is a connecting link called "Listen Again." Click here to listen to the 25 minute program and Brett's comments on JRRT.
________________________
* In checking this connection for "The Purple Emperor," it has to be accessed through
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/atoz/
from this page go to Nature, click "go to this website," then check under the list on the right hand side until you find "In Search of the Emperor," click on this title and it takes you to the relevant page with the colour photo...
Another representation of this butterfly may be found at
static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2010/10/4/1286212001889/purple-emperor-butterfly-006.jpg
Douglas A. Anderson kindly inclues a drawing of the purple emperor on p. 201, but this hardly does the creature justice. A full colour representation can be found on BBC4 Radio's "Nature" -- "In Search of the Emperor"*
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/nature_2006918.shtml
Then, during a disscusion of "Woodland Butterflies," at
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/livingworld_20040829.shtml
the narrator, BRETT WESTWOOD, mentions this very passage from The Hobbit. Apparently outdoor enthusiasts in Britain do read JRRT! Just above Brett's picture there is a connecting link called "Listen Again." Click here to listen to the 25 minute program and Brett's comments on JRRT.
________________________
* In checking this connection for "The Purple Emperor," it has to be accessed through
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/atoz/
from this page go to Nature, click "go to this website," then check under the list on the right hand side until you find "In Search of the Emperor," click on this title and it takes you to the relevant page with the colour photo...
Another representation of this butterfly may be found at
static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2010/10/4/1286212001889/purple-emperor-butterfly-006.jpg