THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. . 7 1 



"O well, we slide down hill in the city, and skate, too, 

 although our sliding places are not as grand as the Moun- 

 tain." 



■"Then sometimes we have a long, drifting snow-storm," 

 said Hal, "and when it is over we shovel paths and build 

 snow-forts and have grand snowball battles. Then is when 

 we have our real fun. The Summer sports, butterfly-hunt- 

 ing and the like, are nothing but girls' play." 



" I don't think it was girls' play yesterday, Hal," said 

 Maggie, "when you were chasing that Archippus butterfly. 

 Rose and I were sitting under the trees, and we could see 

 you rolling over walls and stumbling over rocks, and then 

 when you finally came back to the house you were spat- 

 tered all over with mud." 



" I caught the Archippus, though," said Hal, " so the 

 mud did n't matter. It was rough work, to be sure." 



Before they reached Mr. Webb's house they met Mr. 

 Benedict, who was also going to see Annie. 



" I have lost the moths which came out of these small 

 straw-colored cocoons," said Annie, when Mr. Benedict in- 

 quired about the chrysalids. "I did not think it was time 

 for any of them to come out, so I left the box cover off 

 one day and away they flew." 



" It will be safer to keep your box closed," said the 

 teacher, "for they may break the" doors of their prison- 

 house at any time. I am glad your box is large ; it gives 



