186 LEPIDOPTEKA. 



comprehends natural processes better when taught by 

 natural methods. 



The monarch or milk-weed butterfly, Danais Ar- 

 chippiis, Fabr. (PL IX., Fig. 134, ^ , p. 186), is abun- 

 dant during July and August wherever the milk-weed 

 grows, and is often seen flying among our cultivated 

 flowers. If for any reason specimens of this genus can- 

 not be obtained, the white cabbage butterfly, Pieris 

 j-apae, Linn. (Figs. 168, 169, p. 215), can be easily 

 caught in our gardens. The specimens can be chloro- 

 formed, and the wings spread on simple wooden set- 

 ting-boards. These the children who have taken les- 

 sons in carpentry will like to make for themselves. It 

 is often convenient for teachers to preserve the butter- 

 flies in envelopes immediately after they are killed. 

 As the dried specimens are extremely brittle, it is 

 better to soften them before handhng. Forty-eight 

 hours before the lesson is to be given cover the 

 bottom of a dish with wet sand, and over this place 

 tissue paper, then lay the butterflies upon the paper, 

 and cover the dish. The body, wings, and legs will 

 become pliable, and the observational work can be 

 done much more satisfactorily. 



The obvious characteristic of the butterfly's body 

 is its coating of hairs and scales. After this has 

 been observed, it must be scraped away in order to 

 expose the chitinous parts beneath. The three re- 

 gions are then distinctly seen. The broad, short head 

 (PI. IX., Fig. 135, A ; Fig. 136) is freely movable, and 

 the compound eyes (Fig. 136, ey) stand out promi- 

 nently on either side. The prothorax (PI. IX., Fig. 

 135, I?') is reduced to a Httle, narrow ring, which ap- 



