BUTTERFLIES 89 



tiny one, sky-blue above, silver-gray underneath, 

 sprinkled with black eyes in white circles, with a line 

 of reddish spots bordering the wings, is called the 

 Argus." 



And Uncle Paul continued thus, naming the but- 

 terflies that a bright sun had drawn to the flowers. 



"The Argus ought to be difficult to catch, " ob- 

 M-rved Emile. "He sees everywhere; his wings are 

 civd with eyes." 



Female Male 



Cabbage Butterfly 



"The pretty round spots that a great many but- 

 terflies have on their wings are not really eyes, al- 

 though they are called by that name; they are orna- 

 ments, nothing more. Real eyes, eyes for seeing, 

 are in the head. The Argus has two, neither more 

 nor fewer than the other butterflies. ' ' 



"Claire tells me," said Jules, "that butterflies 

 come from caterpillars. Is it true, Uncle!" 



"Yes, my child. Every butterfly, before becom- 

 ing the graceful creature which flies from flower to 

 flower with magnificent wings, is an ugly caterpillar 

 tli.it creeps with effort. Thus the cabbage butter- 

 fly, \\liich T have just shown you, is first a green 

 caterpillar, which stays on the cabbages and gnaws 



