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Mr. ( ) AT. was the owner of a fine collection of butterflies; he had 

 arranged the specimens in a very unique fashion. Carefully leading you 

 upstairs — and care was quite necessary — you would face a large case, 

 about 4 feet long, fji feet deep and 2 feet wide. There was a curtain over 

 the glass ; after putting you upon a kind of spring-board in some way 

 connected with the case, he would pull the curtain, and your amazed 

 eyes would see a wonderful sight. The background of the case showed 

 a nicely painted landscape ; on the sides of the case were artificial trees 

 ol various kinds, in full foliage ; in the front of the case was a little pond 

 formed of glass. All the insects in this case were mounted in natural po- 

 sitions, some were fastened to very long and invisible fine steel-wires, and 

 were Hying (the spring-board giving motion to them); others were resting 

 in various positions on leaf or trunk. The caterpillars were feeding in 

 their proper positions, and there was not a leaf upon any of the plants 

 that did not show the effects of some insects upon them, such as leaf- 

 miners, etc. All these leaves were cut out of paper, ami they were all 

 carefully painted from nature. Water-beetles and bugs were swimming 

 in the pond — even the common house-fly could be seen, cleaning itself, 

 of course, Canthon hudsonias and his ball had not been left out in this 

 picture of still-life. 



A further exploration of this garrett was somewhat dangerous, owing 

 to several large nests of hornets, which Mr. O'M. had trained as watch- 

 men, and quite successfully so, as a large bump on my head could vouch 

 for. House-painting occupying too much time, ami preventing Mr. O'M. 

 from feeding his various pets, the caterpillars, he had evolved a very good 

 plan of making a living and raising butterflies at the same time. He had 

 built himself a three wheeled hand-cart, upon which he had a photograph- 

 ing outfit and breeding cages. According to an agreement I met him one 

 fine morning outside the city to have a days collecting together ; he with 

 an eye to business as well. After travelling several miles we came to a 

 blacksmith's shop on the road, well shaded by some beautiful old oaks. 

 A farmer and his wife wished to have their pictures taken. Mr. O'M. put 

 them in a graceful position against the ivy-covered wall, fixed his camera, 

 and cried : "Steady.'' Then he went through the motion of looking at 

 a watch — which he did not possess. But just at this critical moment a 

 beautiful Papilio thoas hove in sight and — everything about the art of 

 photography was forgotten, and Mr. O'M. was in full chase after this 

 prize. He succeeded in this but not in the picture. The worthy old 

 couple stood like posts, and eventually obtained a photograph, but not a 

 likeness. 



