THE MOURNING CLOAK OR ANTIOPA BUTTERFLY. 



Butterflies in winter are rare objects, but by a little 

 searching in the right situations you may often find specimens 

 of the beautiful mourning cloak or antiopa butterfly. This 

 is the large purple butterfly having a golden border on the 

 upper surface of the wings, shown in Fig. 23. 



Fig. 23. — Mourning Cloak or Antiopa Butterfly. 



On the approach of winter these butterflies seek the shelter 

 of logs, boards, hollow trees, wood piles, culverts or bridges, 

 sheds or barns. When one of them finds a shelter to its liking 

 it lights, generally with its wings hanging downward. Here it 

 composes itself for the long sleep which knows no waking till 

 the spring sunshine calls it again to life. 



In such shelters protected from snow and rain, these fra^le 

 creatures endure without injury the severe cold of our northern 

 winters. 



22 



