THE EGG 17 



To put the matter more briefly, then, we will say that the eggs 

 of these insects are simply little liquid masses, usually of a colour- 

 less substance, sm'rounded by a horny and flexible covering. 



Such a description may certainly give you some idea of 

 the nature of the eggs of insects, but no amount of book reading 

 will ser\ e the pm'pose so well or be so pleasant as the exami- 

 nation of the eggs themselves. During the summer months 

 very little difficulty will be experienced in finding some eggs 

 in your own garden. Turn over some leaves and examine their 

 imder sm-faces, choosing especially those plants which show, by 

 their partially eaten leaves, that they are favourites with the insect 

 world. Or you may amuse yoiu'self by catching a nundjer of butter- 

 flies — common ' Whites ' are as good for the purpose as axiy — and 

 temporarily confine them in a wooden or cardboard box, containing 

 a number of leaves from various plants, and covered with gauze. 

 In this way you are sure to obtain a few females that have not jet 

 laid all their eggs ; and if you watch your prisoners you will soon 

 see them carefully depositing the eggs on the under surfaces of 

 leaves, bendmg their abdomens round the edges if there is not suffi- 

 cient room to get themselves completely under. And then, when 

 you are satisfied with the number of eggs thus obtained for your 

 examination, you can have the pleasure of seeing all jour liberated 

 captives flying joyfully in the free aij'. 



In giving these simple instructions I have assumed that the 

 reader has not yet learnt any of the characters by which female 

 butterflies are to be distinguished fi'om their lords and masters ; but 

 I hope that he will know soon, at least with regard to a good many 

 species, from which individuals he may most reasonably ex^ject to 

 obtain eggs, and so be able to avoid the imprisonment, even though 

 only temporary, of insects which cannot satisfy his wants. 



Again, it is not necessary, after all, that biitterflies should be 

 captured for the purpose of obtaining eggs. Watch them as they 

 hover about among your flowers. Some, j-ou wiU observe, are intent 

 on nothing but idle frolicking ; and you may conclude at once that 

 these have no immediate duty to perform. Others are flying with- 

 out hesitation from flower to flower, gorging themselves with the 

 sweets of life : these are not the objects of yoiu- search. But you 

 will descrj' certain others, flying round about the beds and borders 

 with a steadier and more matronly air, taking little or no notice of 

 their more frivolous companions, and ]iaying not the slightest heed 

 to the bright nectar-produciug cups of the numerous flowers. These 



c 



