POSTURES OF BUTTERFLIES AT REST AND ASLEEP 



Butterflies, as a general rule, are very dainty 

 about alighting after flight, appearing to regard 

 the position they shall take with some concern, 

 hesitating more or less about the place they 

 choose ; sometimes they hover about a sj^ot or 

 approach and leave it many times before pitching ; 

 at others two or three quivers of the wing are all 

 that indicate their daintiness. Moths, on the 

 contrary, usually come plump to a stop and settle, 

 much as if they had been thrown at the spot ; 

 while among the butterflies, those that in this 

 respect resemble the moths the most closely are 

 the lowest family, the skippers, and some Nym- 

 phalidae which are protected by their colors when 

 alight. 



Alighted only for a brief rest, or to sun them- 

 selves, or to suck the juices of some flower, butter- 

 flies usually keep the wings more or less spread 

 wide open ; though in feeding, especially if it be 



