212 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
their progress we saw miller and moth burst 
from these loathsome cerements and float away 
in forms so beautiful that we called them ‘ blos¬ 
soms of the air.’ Enticed by such brilliant 
apparitions, it will not be unwillingly that we try 
in this lesson to interest ourselves in these 
aerial wonders. In striving to keep in view 
this gorgeously-arrayed monitor we shall doubt¬ 
less find our feet on a higher round of the lad¬ 
der than any which we have yet succeeded in 
reaching— 
‘ The beautiful blue butterflies, 
That flutter around the jasmine stems 
Like winged flowers or flying gems.’ 
“As we consider this subject, our eyes may 
glance from time to time at a case of butterflies 
wherein fifty markedly different species are rep¬ 
resented. And such a picture of exquisite shapes 
and rich coloring on a soft velvet background can 
hardly be found in any other living combination, 
except it be an equal number of humming-birds. 
But if these tiny birdlings can match the but¬ 
terfly picturing, they cannot come into compe¬ 
tition with the marvellous progress of Lepidop- 
teran life—three stages so unique and seemingly 
