Butterflies in the Garden 211 



on the juices which they drain, so insatiably and as 

 though with conscious purpose, from the blooms in 

 the September garden. As the month proceeds, 

 gradually they withdraw to their secret hiding- 

 places, where the bright colours which they flashed 

 upon the marigold and heliotrope are succeeded 

 by the obscure, concealing pattern of their folded 

 wings. By the time that their favourite dahlia 

 blossoms are blackened by the early frosts, only 

 the last of the red admirals will be left to bicker 

 with the wasps and drones for the honey of the ivy 

 bloom in the October sunshine, or to drowse among 

 the heavy juices of pears and apples, crushed on 

 the orchard grass. Butterflies and wasps may be 

 found clinging to their banquet together all through 

 the hours of gossamer-haunted dark, feasting on, 

 like King Mycerinus in the legend, both by night 

 and day, under the shadow of the imminent end. 



