96 OUT OF DOORS. 



with its black wings edged with azure and crossed with 

 a broad scarlet band ; and possibly even the white 

 admiral, the elegant Camilla, may come flying along 

 with that easy sweep of wing and that exceeding grace 

 of movement which have earned for this insect the 

 name of her who could skim over the waves without 

 sinking, or over the ears of corn without bending their 

 heads. Let us catch the peacock, just to look at the 

 under-surface of the eyes. What a singular change. 

 Instead of the varied colours which bedeck the upper 

 surface, the whole of the under wing is deep brownish 

 black, mottled and streaked by darker hues. Why is 

 this ? For a very sufficient reason, i.e., to prevent the 

 brilliant insect from being betrayed by its bright 

 plumage. If alarmed, it instantly flies to some dark 

 object, such as a tree trunk, closes its wings over its back, 

 so that merely the dark under-surface is visible, and looks 

 just like a dead leaf, or a strip of loose bark. When it 

 was a caterpillar this was a curious creature, actually 

 living on the stinging-nettle, and being itself covered 

 with an array of handspikes curious to behold. I have 

 bred hundreds of them and other butterflies from their 

 earliest stages, and always found it to be the surest way 

 of obtaining perfect specimens. Only, they must be 

 liberally supplied with fresh food, or when they emerge 

 from the chrysalis they are small and stunted. 



Euphrosyne shakes her dappled wings from yonder 

 thistle-top, the light sparkling from her silver jewelled 

 plumes as she gently waves them in the sunbeams ; over 



