152 IRambles witb IRature Students 



Peacocks, red admirals, and tortoiseshells form a 

 most beautiful mosaic of colour on the soft mauve 

 flowers, and the tints are ever varying as the wings 

 open and shut and reveal the dark, yet brilliant, 

 markings of the under wings. 



There must be something very attractive in the 

 honey of this particular stonccrop, for its blossoms 

 are the resort of insects of all kinds ; bees, wasps, 

 and flies hover over them all through the hours of 

 sunlight, quite a busy throng ever coming and going. 



I like to take a seat for a while near this 

 plant, in order to watch the characteristics of 

 different insects. Some are very business-like, they 

 come for honey only, interfere with nobody, and 

 go away as soon as they are satisfied ; others 

 are winged busybodies, buzzing around disturbing 

 peaceable visitors, themselves idle and interfering 

 with those who desire to pursue their own quiet work. 



The butterflies are busily engaged, each drawing 

 up nectar with its long proboscis, enjoying sunlight 

 and sweet food. Perhaps they even possess a touch 

 of vanity, and are conscious of some pleasure in 

 exhibiting their lovely wings. If so, they may surely 

 be excused, seeing how truly beautiful they are. 



It is well worth while to search amongst nettle 

 leaves in early summer in order to find some of 

 the jet-black, prickly caterpillars from which these 

 handsome butterflies develop, and by keeping them 

 in a box, well supplied with nettle leaves daily, we 

 may see for ourselves the curious chrysalides \vhich 

 shine as if made of gold leaf and hang suspended 

 head downwards, held securely by the small hooks 

 with which the pointed end of the chrysalis is 

 provided. Then in due time out come the ex- 



