MOORLAND IDYLLS. 



chrysalis case, wings bud from the side, and 

 the grub or caterpillar changes by degrees 

 into the totally unlike image of the beetle 

 or butterfly. As soon as warmer weather 

 sets in, the winged forms emerge with the 

 first sunny day from their broken shell. I 

 have seen nettle-butterflies abroad in a spell 

 of genial warmth in the last week of January; 

 a brimstone has been tempted forth to seek 

 his lady-love on St. Valentine's Day ; and 

 fritillaries are abundant in early March 

 sunshine. Lesser insects, whose names are 

 enshrined in scientific Latin alone, often 

 emerge from their mummy-cases even earlier 

 than these familiar and conspicuous 

 lepidoptera. 



The moment they peep forth, lo and 

 behold ! they find the plant world, for its 

 part, ready decked to greet them. The very 

 same morning that sees the first butterfly 

 and the first bee on the wing, sees also 

 the first crocus opening wide its shining 

 cup in the full sun to woo them. The 

 124 



