THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 4/ 



is called the Polyommatus Comyntas, expands its wings 

 about one inch. It lives in dry woods. You will not find 

 it before July, but I mention it now because it belongs 

 to the same genus as the two you have brought in." 



" Mr. Benedict," said Frank, " I 'm so tired of all these 

 little butterflies. I 'd rather hear about the mud-wasps." 



"In the next lesson, Frank, I will tell you about a 

 beautiful large butterfly, but now you must listen patiently 

 to the description of these little ones. There are many 

 small butterflies," the teacher continued, "belonging to the 

 genus Thecla. Their hind wings are tailed, and there are 

 some other peculiarities by which you can readily distin- 

 guish them. If you are interested to learn more about 

 them, you will find a full description in your book. Their 

 color is a dull brown of various shades marked in some 

 of the varieties with specks of white or blue. They expand 

 about an inch. The caterpillar of the Thecla is often 

 injurious to vegetation. Hop-vines, for instance, are some- 

 times entirely ruined by that of the Thecla Humuli. 



"For our next lesson we will take one of the largest 

 butterflies that is seen on the wing during the Summer. 

 It is not very common, and, as I doubt very much whether 

 you will find one, I will bring a specimen from my own 

 Cabinet." 



"Do all butterflies belonging to the genus Thecla have 

 tailed wings .'' " asked Hal. 



