WATER-DRINKING BUTTERFLIES. 313 



Neither are their bufferings considered by Mr. Rennie so 

 rude by half as they appear, and he urges against the 

 probability of their angry purpose the number of the insects 

 (sometimes as many as five or six) seen together in collision. 

 Of this argument, however, we scarcely see the force, unless 

 it could be proved that Butterflies, being wiser than men, 

 never took sides or part in each other's quarrels. But as no 

 mortal consequences have ever, as we know of, been seen to 

 result from these rencounters in the air, we must perhaps leave 

 unanswered the question of their dubious meaning, that of 

 rough play, or gentle warfare, till the progress of phrenology 

 enables us to pronounce safely on the amount of combativeness 

 in a Butterfly's skull. Meanwhile, we would much rather 

 incline to the pacific notion, and in poetic justice admit our 

 favourite, (until we know to the contrary) to be 



" A beautiful creature 

 That is gentle by nature ;" 



even though by so doing we throw a double stigma, for his 

 pursuit and devourment, upon our favourite robin. 



Butterflies are said to be the thirstiest creatures (save Ants 

 and Crickets) of all the Insect community ; but however they 

 may get tipsy, perhaps quarrelsome, over their cups of honied 

 wine, it would appear that they are the best friends possible, 

 when, as is no uncommon occurrence, they meet together in 

 numerous water- drinking assemblies. Like a row of white- 

 muslin Misses at a Temperance Tea-Meeting, the small white 



