A BUTTERFLY DUEL. 311 



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 liquorish 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 I Now 

 the light weight and azure pinions of the little Argus now 

 the heavy body and flapping wings of the burly Alderman ! 

 Which will be the gainer of the day? For once, Might and 

 Eight are both upon a side, and for that reason, doubtless, 

 Might seems worsted. The combatants have risen so high 

 that they are almost beyond our dazzled sight but now 

 behold, descending and alone, the little blue aggressor. He 

 has driven his opponent from the aerial field as well as from his 

 honeyed fare, which he now returns to appropriate and discuss 



