242 



INSECT LIFE. 



of orange, black, and white (Fig. 210). The adult 

 has mouse-gray, unspotted wings. 



MOTHS.* 



Ghosts of departed winged things. 



What memories are those 

 That tempt you with your damask wings 



Here where my candle glows ? 



Vainly you hover, circling oft 



The tongue of yellow flame : 

 A tiger by caresses soft 



You vainly seek to tame. 



Here is no hope for you : nay, here 



Death lurks within the light. 

 To leap upon you flying near 



And sweep you from the night. 



Moon-butterflies, back to your blooms 



Born of the dew and stars ! 

 Hence, ghosts, and find again your glooms 



Hidden by shadow-bars. 



Quick — speed across the dusky blue, 



Lest, in a sudden breath. 

 This tawny tiger wake, and you 



Endure a second death ! 



Frank Dempster Sherman. 



THE SWALLOW-TAIL BUTTERFLIES. 



These magnificent butterflies are easil}^ recog- 

 nized by their large size and the tail-like prolonga- 

 tions of the hind wings. The ground color of the 

 wings is black, which is usually marked with yellow, 



* From Lyrics for a Lute, by permission of Messrs. Houghton, 

 Mifflin & Co. 



