The Butterflies' Fad 



the fore wings and the reddish color of the apex and upper mar- 

 gin of the same wings. Expanse, 2.25-2.75 inches. 



Early Stages. — These have been partially described by Henry 

 Edwards, and minutely worked out by Dr. Dyar, for whose de- 

 scription the reader may consult the "Canadian Entomologist," 

 vol. xxiii, p. 172. The food-plant of the caterpillar is Populus, 

 willows, and the choke-cherry {Primus demissa). 



Besides the forms figured in our plates there is a species in 

 Florida named floridensis by Strecker, and subsequently eros by 

 Edwards, which is generally larger and much darker than B. di- 

 sippus, which it otherwise closely approximates. 



THE BUTTERFLIES' FAD 



" I happened one night in my travels 



To stray into Butterfly Vale, 

 Where my wondering eyes beheld butterflies 



With wings that were wide as a sail. 

 They lived in such houses of grandeur, 



Their days were successions of joys, 

 And the very last fad these butterflies had 



Was making collections of boys. 



" There were boys of all sizes and ages 



Pinned up on their walls. When I said 

 'Twas a terrible sight to see boys in that plight, 



I was answered: ' Oh, well, they are dead. 

 We catch them alive, but we kill them 



With ether — a very nice way: 

 Just look at this fellow — his hair is so yellow, 



And his eyes such a beautiful gray. 



" ' Then there is a droll little darky, 



As black as the clay at our feet; 

 He sets off that blond that is pinned just beyond 



In a way most artistic and neat. 

 And now let me show you the latest, — 



A specimen really select, 

 A boy with a head that is carroty-red 



And a face that is funnily specked. 



" ' We cannot decide where to place him; 

 Those spots bar him out of each class; 

 We think him a treasure to study at leisure 

 And analyze under a glass.' 

 186 



