BUTTERFLIES' ENEMIES. 225 



A great many of the butterflies appear both 

 in late spring and autumn, a few of each species 

 generally making their appearance long before 

 the multitude. Some only come in late autumn, 

 as the Charaxes, Philognomas, and Godartias, 

 one or two only occasionally showing in spring; 

 but when I think of their many enemies, not 

 counting the numerous insectivorous birds, I am 

 inclined to wonder there are any left to come at 

 all, notwithstanding the protection afforded to 

 some. 



A large fly, with a very long black and white 

 striped body and long legs, is one of them, and 

 I often see a butterfly being carried off, the fly 

 always resting on the back of his victim and 

 sucking out its life through the thorax. Then 

 the huge spiders stretch their gold-coloured webs 

 an amazing distance from tree-top to tree-top, 

 and capture many an unsuspecting beauty. 



Many varieties of the bugs too are insect 

 feeders, armed with a very long proboscis with 

 which to suck dry the bodies of caterpillars and 

 butterflies. They can also inflict a burning sting 



