THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 9 



to reply to Tom's loud, ringing laugh, but went on quietly 

 looking for more butterflies, turning every now and then 

 to see whether the first one had flown from the roof It 

 soon darted ofl" over the other side of the building, and 

 Hal chased after it, leaving his cousin behind. Very soon 

 Tom heard Hal calling for the box and ether. 



When Tom came up, Hal had gathered the net up into 

 a bunch, confining the insect in a small space. He was 

 holding it very carefully to keep it quiet, until he could 

 put it to sleep with a drop of ether. Tom held the bottle, 

 while Hal with a delicate brush dropped a little ether on 

 the butterfly's head. The insect, soon ceased moving, and 

 Hal then fastened it by means of a long, slender pin to 

 one of the corks in his box, and spread out its wings so 

 as to show all the beauty and variety of the colors. 



" You punch it with your ugly pin as if it was dead 

 instead of asleep," said Tom. 



" Yes, I know I do ; and perhaps it is dead," repHed Hal, 

 all the while busily arranging the wings before they grew 

 stiff and brittle. "Sometimes they wake up," he continued, 

 "and then I have to give them another dose of ether." 



It was now nearly time for dinner, and the boys turned 

 to go into the house. In the yard Hal succeeded in 

 catching two more butterflies of the same kind. 



"Why do you keep so many just alike.''" asked Tom. 



"The specimens are not always perfect," answered Hal, 



