THE FAERY YEAR 



spread, and the trance of pleasure set in, the admiral 

 is loth to move. Another admiral, or some small 

 alien insect, coming to his leaf and trying to share it, 

 the admiral will shiver his wings, and so shake off 

 the intruder. 



The flight of the admiral is distinctive among 

 our butterflies. It is elegant as that of white-sailed 

 racing yacht. The admiral sails the air. Often, 

 with wings full spread and level in his poise, he will 

 skim the air a foot or two without moving a muscle. 

 This level poise, nine or ten feet from the ground, 

 near the top boughs of the underwood, is a charac- 

 teristic position of the admiral ; and often he is right 

 above the head of the watcher, when he seems half 

 diaphanous. It is then the black and white bands 

 are seen to such advantage, and when the wings 

 begin to stir again, and the admiral comes down to a 

 lower leaf, we get glimpses of the fulvous brown or 

 orange-brown wavy bands on his under dress. 

 Under and upper dress both show so well when 

 the white admiral is leisurely a-wing, using the 

 gliding, sailing, floating strokes in which he so 

 excels. 



The Stoat and the Shrike 



The brand of Cain on the stoat is clearly seen 



by birds as well as little beasts. Stoats and weasels, 



at this season, are often in the open fields and park 



lands foraging for their families. I came upon a 



178 



