146 a migrating butterfly 
the passing steamer no more than the passing of time* 
In his giddy flopping there is no apparent progress, 
and one wonders how he traverses the length of the 
continent to spend the season among tropical flowers, 
howhe crosses the Gulf of Mexico to a still more attrac- 
tive climate, and how, a few years ago, he crossed from 
the southern extremity of this continent and invaded 
our sister colony Australia* Around Toronto these 
Butterflies generally move westward, and, although 
they are sometimes encountered over the lake, it is 
thought that the flock or swarm from this part of the 
country crosses at Niagara* It is only three or four 
days after their departure that they are tasting the 
nectar of the flowers in Florida and other States 
around the gulf* 
With their migrating habits there is a resourceful- 
ness that other insects do not possess* The greater 
part of their life is spent not in the inert chrysalis 
state, like so many of their class, but in the highest 
activity of perfect development* Their wings must 
be protected for the long flight* When their delicate 
scales are threatened by a storm of rain they hide 
under the little twigs of the Willow, where they hang 
back downward, their wings closed flatly together 
below them in the position they often assume when 
resting on the flowers* Sometimes they seem to 
forget their usual caution in a shower and fly excitedly 
about, hither and thither, rising higher and higher 
