THE ALDERMAN BUTTERFLY. 123 



of an aster or a single dahlia ; in its centre, his table of regale- 

 ment, on which a whole service of golden vases are set before 

 him in due order. His long spiral tongue has hitherto lain 

 coiled betwixt two side appendages, but now unrolling, he 

 plunges it to the bottom of a chosen chalice, then partially 

 recurves, and indraws his honied draught through the tube- 

 like sucker. Again and again, he quaffs like an " Alder- 

 man" 1 as he is. We know him by his bulk and the richness 

 of his furred and velvet robes, scarlet and black, relieved with 

 white. But see how the rights and pleasures even of an Alder- 

 man Butterfly are open to invasion ! Look at that impertinent 

 prying " Argus," 2 tired of his rustic fare in heath or meadow, 

 and hovering overhead, allured seemingly by sight or scent of 

 richer dainties wherein art has had a finger. Down he lights 

 and seats himself beside the dahlia table, an unbidden guest. 

 The Alderman's translucent eye from red grows redder, and 

 his gorgeous robes shake with indignation as he sees the 

 bold intruder unroll his slender tongue and dip it into one 

 of his own appropriated cups. Still, however, he restrains 

 his ire within the bounds of Aldermanic dignity or prudence ; 

 he attempts not to drive the invader from his invaded board. 

 But, can it be possible ? the little Argus, not content with a 

 dinner upon sufferance, has actually become the assailant of his 

 unwilling host. He closes his blue wings, opening, in the 

 act, a hundred eyes, and then tries with his pigmy body to 

 dislodge, by shoving, the corporation of the Alderman. But 

 the patience of the latter, and his prudence, are now put to 

 flight. Both start from table, mutually buffet and ascend in 

 air, mounting higher and higher as their choler rises, each 

 growing hotter and hotter in his progress towards the mid-day 

 sun. Now blue ! now red is uppermost ! Now the light 

 weight and azure pinions of the little Argus now the heavy 

 body and flapping wings of the burly Alderman ! Which will 



1 Vanessa Atalanta^ Alderman or Red Admiral Butterfly. 



2 Polyommatus Argus, P. Alexis, Common Blue Butterfly. 



