THE FAERY YEAR 



woodland path it may be seen, when carefully 

 searched for, in its attitude of rest or sleep on fronds 

 of fern, on green leaves of any of the underwoods ; 

 and, once we have troubled to find it, we notice that 

 it does not resemble in colour or marking its seat. 

 We have overlooked the butterfly, not because Nature 

 made it cunningly match its environment, but simply 

 because it is too slight and plain and uninteresting to 

 catch the eye for colour or ingenuity of pattern. 

 Here is no case of a " leaf butterfly." No trouble, 

 surely, has ever been taken to make the large heath 

 harmonize with its environment. 



The Butterfly's Nightdress 



As for shape, the brimstone butterfly, now among 

 my phloxes, suggests plant mimicry far more than 

 the heath, through the cut of its wings, which are 

 somewhat leafy ; not that the brimstone offers very 

 satisfying evidence for the theory. I cannot guess 

 why the large heath, never heroic, is in repose such 

 an absolute nonentity. I only feel pretty sure that 

 he has not been by natural selection fitted out to 

 escape his enemies by the colours and marks on the 

 under sides of his wings. I am confining myself 

 almost entirely to the large heath's repose during 

 gloomy or cold days. In all probability the butter- 

 fly presents a similar appearance in his final position 

 for the night sleep. But it is often very hard to 

 find him in his night quarters. My impression is 

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