PREFACE. 



Few things add more enjoyment to a country ramble than a 

 knowledge of the many and varied forms belonging to the 

 animal and vegetable kingdoms that present themselves to the 

 notice of the observing wayfarer on every side. 



Almost every one admires the wild flowers that Nature 

 produces so lavishly, and in such charming variety of form and 

 colour ; but, in addition to their own proper florescence, the plants 

 of woodland, meadow, moor, or down have other " blossoms " 

 that arise from them, although they are not of them. These 

 are the beautiful winged creatures called butterflies, which as 

 crawling caterpillars obtain their nourishment from plant 

 leafage, and in the perfect state help the bees to rifle the 

 flowers of their sweets, and at the same time assist in the work 

 of fertilization. 



It is the story of these aerial flowers that we wish to tell, and 

 hope that in the telling we may win from the reader a loving 

 interest in some of the most attractively interesting of Nature's 

 children. 



There are many people, no doubt, who take an intelligent 

 interest in the various forms of animal life, and yet do not care 

 to collect specimens because, as in the case of butterflies for 

 instance, the necessity arises for killing their captives. Such 

 lovers of Nature are quite satisfied to know the names of the 

 species, and to learn something of their life-histories and habits. 



