UNLOOKED-FOR BUTTERFLIES. 57 



as merry in the cold gleam on the snow as if 

 they had been in a land of summer flowers. 

 Try as I would, I could not catch either of 

 them, and though I got a good look at them 

 now and then, I was unable to identify them 

 as anything I had seen before. They ap- 

 peared to be about the size of a large skipper, 

 whose flight theirs resembled, and their wings 

 on the upper side were a kind of rose-brown 

 (if there be such a colour), marked and spot- 

 ted with some darker shade. I was sorry I 

 had not a net with me, but who could expect 

 to meet with butterflies where we were ? 



However, about mid-day, their gambols and 

 our comfort were brought to an end simulta- 

 neously by the descent of a storm of sleet which 

 had been gradually creeping within range of us 

 foF some time past. This made everythmg as 

 miserable as }X)ssible, so when we could see 

 our way down, Simon and I descended into a 

 gorge where we and our doings should be well 



