1258 Rural School Leaflet 



Undoubtedly, insect foes arc increasing. It is an inevitable result of 

 the destruction of our forests and the bringing of much of the virgin soil 

 under cultivation with the consequent disturbance of the normal conditions 

 of insect life in those areas. It is the result also of the wholesale destruc- 

 tion of our birds for food, millinery purposes, and so-called sport; of 

 increased population and wider occupation of the land by which many 

 of the small animals that normally aid in holding insects in check have 

 been driven away or destroyed; and of the importation of foreign plants 

 and animals. In short, it is the inevitable result of the march of civiliza- 

 tion by which general and profound disturbances of the forces that tend 

 to hold the balance in nature have been brought about. 



THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY 



(For special study) 

 Anna Botsford Comstock 



In September the monarch butterfly is rather common. It is easily 

 distinguished from other butterflies by its brilliant copper-red color, its 

 large size, and its slow, indolent, fearless flight. It shows by its every 

 movement that it is not afraid of birds. 



On the upper side, the central portion of each wing is brilliant copper- 

 red; the veins are narrowly outlined in black; and the edges are bordered 

 in black. The triangular tip of the front wing is black, spotted with pale 

 orange. The black margins of the wings are set with a double row of white 

 dots, two pairs between each two veins, and the edges are marked with white 

 to correspond. Below, the front wings are copper-red on the hind margin 

 covered by the lower wings, while the ground color of the hind wings and 

 the tips of the front wings is buff; the veins are more strongly marked 

 with black than on the upper sides, and the white dots in the black borders 

 are large. The body is black with numerous white dots, especially on 

 the underside. The antennce are about two-thirds as long as the body, 

 and each is tipped with a long Icnob. Sometimes an imprisoned butterfly 

 will partake of nectar if flowers, such as petunias or nasturtiums, are put 

 in its cage, and thus it may displa}; its long sucking tongue; but if it 

 refuses to do so, the tongue may be uncoiled by gently lifting it out with 

 a pin. This butterfly really has six legs, although only four can be seen ; 

 the first pair is reduced in size and is folded under the head out 

 of sight. 



The male monarch has on one of the veins on the upper side of the 

 hind wing a black spot, which makes that vein appear swollen. This Ls 

 a little pocket filled with peculiarly shaped scales, which give off an 

 odor too delicate for man's coarse senses to detect. This odor, however. 



