142 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



birds with a black patch on their heads and black on their 

 wings. The boys watched them for some time, in order to 

 make sure that they were indeed the siskin, for they are so 

 very rare, especially during the breeding season, that very few 

 nests have been found. 



"Well, there can be no doubt about that," said Frank. 

 " They are siskins sure enough. What a very lucky find ! Now- 

 let us have a look at the nest." 



Both nest and eggs were like those of a goldfinch, but the 

 latter were much smaller than a goldfinch's eggs. The eggs were 

 hard sat, but they took three of them and blew them safely ; 

 and as they were still doubting the reality of their good luck, 

 when they went home they consulted their books, and Mr. 



CHRYSALIS. PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. CATERPILLAR. 



Meredith, and all came to the conclusion that there could be 

 no mistake about the birds 



They found many more nests in that hedge. Most of them 

 had young ones, for the season was now very far advanced. 



Dick soon found something after his own heart, and this was 

 a large bed of nettles. Every stem was covered with large, 

 black, hairy caterpillars. These were the caterpillars of the 

 peacock butterfly, that splendid insect, which with its crimson 

 and black, and the gorgeous peacock eyes which adorn its 

 wings, is so conspicuous an object in the country in the summer. 

 It is a great pleasure to me to see it as it sits on its favourite perch, 

 the top of a nettle or a bramble, and opens and shuts its win^s 

 with the fanning motion peculiar to its tribe. Dick marked 

 this spot, and in a short time he came to gather the gilded 

 chrysalides which on every plant shone brightly in the sunshine. 



