NATURE STUDY LESSONS. 39 



fectly still for a long while, and always be hidden as much 

 as possible. There must be no ribbons flying, and it is 

 best, when we can, to keep ourselves between our shadows 

 and the object. If, while still at a distance, we watch 

 some particular butterfl}-, as the Monarch or the Viceroy, 

 we may find it is visiting flowers, to sip the nectar, or some 

 special kind of plant, to deposit its eggs upon the leaves. 

 For the butterflies are wonderful botanists, and each kind 

 knows just what plants produce the right sort of leaves for 

 its young to feed upon. 



Perhaps there may be such a plant near a tree, a stump, 

 a bunch of tall grass, or clump of bushes. If so, we have 

 only to hide and wait patientl}^ for a visit, for that butter- 

 fly or one of the same kind will come sooner or later. If 

 there is a good clump of bushes, but no plants of the right 

 kind near, either bring some of the bushes and stick them 

 in the ground near the plant, or dig up the plant and set 

 it out by the bushes. Then nestle down as still as still 

 can be, and in a little while, as Saint Guido would say, 

 " the magic will begin." 



Bees will fly humming around ; beetles will come seem- 

 ingly from nowhere ; quite likel}' a bird will hop from twig 

 to twig close by ; a ciicket will chirp ; a big spider will be- 

 gin mending its web, and by and by the butterfly will 

 come. Notice that when at rest it holds its wings straight 

 up, back to back. This is unlike the moths, which hold 

 their wings flat or cover their bodies with them at an an- 

 gle, like the roof of a house. See that the front pair 

 are within when the wings are raised, and on top when ly- 

 ing flat, and see if you can think how this would help to 

 make the two wings of the same side work together in fly- 

 ing. Which pair is the larger and stronger ? 



Notice the difference in the color of the upper and under 

 side of the wings, and see how well the brighter under 

 side corresponds with the flowers on which it rests, while 



