50 Beautiful Butterflies. 



ence for the works of the Great Creator, which is 

 enjoined by Him 



" Who formed the gilded fly, and o'er its wing, 

 A picture, decked in rainbow colours, drew ; 

 To sport amid the sunshine of the spring." 



My young readers must not suppose from this that I 

 would harshly condemn in them that love of Butterfly 

 hunting which is common to all children. I have felt 

 it myself, and know how strong is the temptation to 

 follow " the painted toy." There is perhaps no prettier 

 sight than such as that described by Grahame, in his 

 poem on July, when 



" At noontide hour from school the little throng 

 Eush gaily sporting o'er the enamelled mead, 

 Some strive to catch the bloom-perched Butterfly ; 

 And if they miss his mealy wings, the flower 

 From which he flies the disappointment soothes." 



In gazing on such a scene as this, I become a 

 boy again, and am half inclined to join in chase 

 myself, and to whoop and halloo with the maddest 

 there; but then the thought occurs — would it be 

 right to risk even doing injury to a creature so 

 wonderfully fashioned, and to shorten the little span 

 of its joyous existence. Let this thought restrain 

 your hand ; run and leap as much as you like, it is 



