WATER-DRINKING BUTTERFLIES. 125 



their angry purpose the number of the insects (sometimes as 

 many as five or six) seen together in collision. Of this argu- 

 ment, however, we scarcely see the force, unless it could be 

 proved that Butterflies, being wiser than men, never took sides 

 or part in each other's quarrels. But as no mortal consequences 

 have ever, as we know of, been seen to result from these 

 rencounters in the air, we must perhaps leave unanswered the 

 question of their dubious meaning, that of rough play, or 

 gentle warfare, till the progress of phrenology enables us to 

 pronounce safely on the amount of combativeness in a Butter- 

 fly's skull. Meanwhile, we would much rather incline to the 

 pacific notion, and in poetic justice admit our favourite, (until 

 we know to the contrary) to be 



" A beautiful creature 

 That is gentle by nature ;" 



even though by so doing we throw a double stigma, for his 

 pursuit and devourment, upon our favourite robin. 



Butterflies are said to be the thirstiest creatures (save Ants 

 and Crickets) of all the Insect community ; but however they 

 may get tipsy, perhaps quarrelsome, over their cups of honied 

 wine, it would appear that they are the best friends possible, 

 when, as is no uncommon occurrence, they meet together in 

 numerous water-drinking assemblies. Like a row of white-mus- 

 lin Misses at a Temperance Tea-Meeting, the small white But- 

 terflies are often in hot weather to be seen sitting, side by side, 

 on the margin of a half-dry pond, where 



" in the same bathing their tender feete," 



they are enabled at once to quench their thirst for water and, 

 very likely, for gossip. 



In these social assemblages but few females are accustomed 

 to be present, though no law of absolute exclusion would seem 

 to exist against them, as in the aerial dances of the Gnat. The 

 prevailing absence of lady Butterflies from these water-drink- 



