BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 107 



the foxglove ? ... Do not fear that these names 

 will ever give place to others ; they will last as long 

 as the mother earth that bears the plants them- 

 selves : the nation will no longer be itself when 

 the rose, the leek, the shamrock, and the thistle 

 cease to be household words. ... As it has been 

 in the days before us, so do we find it to be yet, 

 and so will it be after we are gone, with the well- 

 known English names of our common butterflies 

 and moths. By these will they still be known 

 when the fancies and conceits which in vain try 

 to supersede them have sunk into deserved oblivion. 

 The gay science numbers some of all classes in 

 her ranks the nobleman's or gentleman's son at 

 school or at college ; the apprentice lad of the great 

 city, who may one day rise to be Lord Mayor of 

 London ; the country clergyman in the quiet par- 

 sonage of the sequestered village ; the decent trades- 

 man of the country town ; the hardy husbandman 

 in his neat cottage ; the mechanic whose head and 

 hand are busy ; the gallant naval or military officer, 

 the defender of the land ; many of England's fairest 

 daughters, and many of her hardiest sons. These, 

 be sure, will ever continue to keep what they have 

 already preserved so long." 



The passage here given has been taken at some 

 length, for it is a highly characteristic expression of 

 the mind and sentiment of the author on a subject 

 that for many years specially interested him ; it is, 

 indeed, a bit of himself in his happiest mood. 



As an argument against those who would advocate 



