Beautiful Butterflies. 43 



and fifty little circular looking-glasses, to a single pair 

 of eyes, contrived and fashioned for an insect destined 

 to live but for a few hours. I can tell you nothing 

 more wonderful than this, so I think I may as well 

 bring my description of a Butterfly to a conclusion, the 

 more especially as I have mentioned all with which it 

 is necessary for you to be acquainted about the history 

 and structure 



Of that wonder of wonders, the bright-winged fly, 

 That flits to and fro in the azure sky ; 

 That has died, and been buried, and sprung from the tomb, 

 To live amid sunshine, and beauty and bloom. 



As the subject of my present volume is 6 British 

 Butterflies/ I would say a few words with especial 

 reference to them. They are neither so large nor so 

 beautiful as some of the foreign ones, yet are there 

 many of the native species remarkable for elegance of 

 form and richness of colour, as the examples here given 

 will serve to show ; and, by the way, here let me men- 

 tion one peculiarity in the wings of the Butterfly, 

 which should not go unnoticed — the under, as well as 

 the upper, side of this wing, is beautifully painted by 

 the Divine Hand, often of a different pattern fiom that 

 displayed on the outer surface. How elaborately 

 finished are all God's works ! How perfect in every 

 part! 



The Lepidopterous order of insects ranks next to the 



