30 Beautiful Butterflies. 



unexpanded bud may be discovered the germ of the 

 future flower. So that all these changes are but a 

 series of developments, a throwing off of outer coats, so 

 to speak ; and showing more and more clearly the per- 

 fect form within. All this is very wonderful, and worthy 

 of our closest study and attention. So striking did 

 these changes which the insect undergoes appear to the 

 ancient Greeks, that they regarded the Butterfly as the 

 fittest emblem of the soul of man ; accordingly we find 

 that their word Psyche, pronounced SyJce, with an 

 accent on the last letter, signifies both the human soul 

 and a Butterfly. And very beautiful and appropriate 

 is this emblem. How like a rising from the tomb and 

 soaring upward to the realms of light, is this bursting 

 forth of the imprisoned fly from its dark chrysalis 

 chamber, to spread its glittering wings and float aloft 

 in the golden sunshine. The poet Rogers has written 

 some fine lines upon this subject, which, I think, you 

 will be able to understand and appreciate : here they 

 are — 



" Child of the sun ! pursue thy rapturous flight, 

 Mingling with her thou lovest in fields of light ; 

 And, where the flowers of paradise unfold, 

 Quaff fragrant nectar from their cups of gold, 

 There shall thy wings, rich as an evening sky, 

 Expand and shut in silent ecstacy. 



