224 A SKETCH OF THE 



flowers are at their best in April, and then many swallow-tailed 

 butterflies hover over them, whilst here and there may be seen the 

 Camberwell Beauty, which is hunted to the death by English 

 collectors. 



A few days before we left Mentone for Genoa, I went with a 

 young lepidopterist butterfly-hunting among the hills where I had 



THE SWALLOW-TAIL BUTTERFLY. 



seen the first Swallow-tails of the season. Upon the road my 

 companion was in an extraordinary state of excitement, and spoke 

 of our chance of success as though the fate of nations depended 

 on our exertions ; and when, after an exciting chase, a swallow-tail 

 was caught in his net, he almost went wild with joy. He laughed 



