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CHAPTER III. 



ON THE HABITS OF BUTTEKFLIES AND MOTHS. 



IT is well known that butterflies remain quietly at rest 

 during the night, and are only to be seen on the wing 

 in the daytime ; indeed, bright sunshine is needed to 

 arouse many into a life of activity, and we all notice 

 that in a sunless summer we are little cheered by the 

 sportive gambols of butterflies. 



Gardens, fields, woods, and lanes are the places for 

 butterflies, a meadow at the edge of a wood, or an open 

 glade in a wood, being the best localities. There in the 

 summer time from soon after sunrise till about 5 P.M. 

 a constant succession may be seen settling on flowers of 

 thistles, brambles, etc., to extract their sweets. 



After 5 P.M. few butterflies will be noticed on the 

 wing, and then the only chance is of finding them at 

 their sleeping places. Some of the Little Blues and 

 the Small Copper may be found sleeping on the flowers 

 of rushes in sheltered places, and the female Orange 

 Tip may frequently be found asleep on the umbels of 

 the wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris). 



The neighbourhood of London is far less prolific in 

 butterflies than it used to be, and the collector needs 

 to go further into the country, which, thanks to the 

 numerous railways, he can easily do. 



