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itself, six-sided in shape, so that the whole collection resembles the cells in a honeycomb !

There are about three thousand different species of butterflies, but not more than seventy-five of these are found in Britain. The largest and prettiest varieties are natives of South America; but they abound in all very warm countries. The species with which we are most familiar is the White Cabbage Butterfly, so common in our gardens in May; but many others of brilliant colour may be seen glancing over meadow and pasture-land, in the warm sunshine of our summer and autumn months.

Butterflies, like other winged insects, pass through four different states in the course of their existence. There is first the egg, then the larva or caterpillar, then the pupa or chrysalis, and last of all the butterfly itself.

The eggs are laid on the leaves of plants, sometimes singly and sometimes in clusters, and are covered with a coating of a gummy fluid, which fastens them securely and defends them from the weather. They are hatched by the heat of the sun.

The larvæ or caterpillars which come from the eggs are very destructive to vegetation, and often cause great loss to the farmer and gardener by their ravages. Fortunately, they are the favourite food of small birds, and certain other insects also make them their

prey.

The caterpillar changes its skin three times, at least, before it reaches its full size. It then prepares for a new state of existence. Leaving the plant on which it has fed, it seeks some secure retreat, where it forms for itself a curious wrapper, called a chrysalis, which we may see adhering to sunny walls or suspended by silken cords from posts and trees. The insect remains in the pupa or chrysalis state for some weeks; then the cradle cracks,

the wrappings are torn asunder, and the inmate, now furnished with wings, comes forth to begin a new life. The young butterfly is at first faint and languid; but soon her gorgeous wings expand in the heat of the sun, and, launching into the air, she sails merrily along with as much ease and confidence as if she had been long accustomed to such aerial exercise.

Is it not strange that such a bright creature, with its painted wings and fitful flight, should come from a mean, crawling worm like a caterpillar? And can you wonder that this transformation reminds the Christian of the great resurrection-day, when his body, changed and glorified, shall rise to a new life and a new home in heaven?

Anten'næ (sing. antenna)—a Latin word denoting the yards or spars on which the sails of a ship are extended. This name is given to the "feelers" of insects from their fancied resemblance to the sail-yards of a vessel. Their form affords one way of distinguishing butterflies from moths, which belong to the same order of insects: the antennæ of moths taper regularly to a point, while those of the butterfly have a knob at the tip.

Lar'va (Latin, a mask: pl. larvæ)—a caterpillar. In this state the true or perfect form of the insect is masked or concealed.

Pupa (Latin, a doll or mummy)-the chrysalis state: so called because the insect is wrapped up, like a mummy, in folds or bandages.

Chrys'alis (Greek, golden)-The pupa form is so called because it is sometimes of a golden yellow colour.

QUESTIONS.

When do butterflies appear in great numbers? What are butterflies? What rank may they be said to hold among insects? What are their wings covered with? How are the scales arranged? How many are on one square inch? What is the meaning of Lepidoptera? What other insects belong to this order? What organ does the butterfly use in feeding? Describe it. What is the food of the butterfly? What are antennæ? Why are they so called? Can you tell their use? Distinguish between the antennæ of butterflies and those of moths. Describe the eye of the butterfly. How

many kinds of butterflies are known? How many are found in Britain? Which is the most common? Where are the largest found? What are the four stages of butterfly-life? Where are the eggs laid? With what are they covered? For what purposes? How

are they hatched? What come from them? What does larva mean? Why so called? How are the ravages of caterpillars checked? How often does the caterpillar cast its skin? Where

does it form the chrysalis? Explain the words pupa and chrysalis. What is the breaking of the butterfly from the chrysalis said to be an emblem of?

Spell adjectives in able formed from reason, remark, note, love, blame, value, admire, agree, trace, peace, pronounce, notice, charge, change, pity, pay.

DICTATION.

Which is the most valuable of the metals? His diligence is remarkable. The medal on the soldier's breast was quite noticeable. Peaceable people are not chargeable with such an offence. The courier was checked in his career. Where is this cheque payable? Am I blamable for your misconduct? In autumn the leaves are sere. The predictions of the seer were far from being agreeable.

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[OWLS differ from other birds of prey in having their large round eyes formed for seeing better in the dusk than in the broad glare of sunshine. They haunt old ruins and hollow trees, where they remain concealed till evening, when they come abroad in quest of small birds and mice.]

Tu whit! tu whoo! In my ancient hall,

In my old grey turret high,

Where the moss is thick on the crumbling wall,
A king-a king reign I!

Tu whoo!

I wake the woods with my startling call
To the frighted passers-by.

The ivy-vines in the chink that grow

Come clambering up to me;

And the newt and the bat and the toad, I trow,
A right merry band are we.

Tu whoo!

Oh, the coffined monks in their cells below
Have no goodlier company.

Let them joy in their brilliant sunlit skies
And their sunset hues, who may;

But softer by far than the tints they prize
Is the dim of the twilight grey!
Tu whoo!!

Oh, a weary thing to a howlet's eyes
Is the garish blaze of day.

When the sweet dew sleeps in the midnight cool,
Some tall tree-top I win;

And the toad leaps up on her throne-shaped stool,
And our revels loud begin-

Tu whoo!

While the bull-frog croaks o'er the stagnant pool,
Or plunges headlong in.

As the last lone ray from the hamlet fades
In the dark and still profound,

The night-bird sings in the cloister shades,
And the glow-worm lights the ground-
Tu whoo!

And fairies trip o'er the broad green glades
To the fire-fly circling round.

Tu whit! tu whoo! All the livelong night
A right gladsome life lead we;

While the twinkling stars from their azure height
Look down approvingly.

Tu whoo!

They may bask who will in the noonday light,
But the midnight dark for me.-Mrs. Hewitt.

Bat-an animal resembling a mouse, with wings made of a thin skin or membrane that stretches from the fore-limbs to the tail. Bats, like owls, dislike sunshine: they adhere to walls in dark places during the day, and come out at night in search of moths, on which they feed.

Frogs, toads, and newts belong to a class of animals which are called amphibious, because they are adapted at one period of life for breathing in water, and afterwards for breathing in air.

R. IV.

I

Night-bird-the nightingale, a small bird that sings at night. Glow-worm-an insect belonging to the class of beetles. It is so called because it emits a shining green light at certain seasons. Fairies-Superstitious people, in former times, fancied that there were certain tiny beings, called fairies, that often appeared in human form, and played humorous and mischievous pranks. Fire-fly-an insect common in tropical countries, which, like the glow-worm, has the power of emitting a brilliant light. In the West Indies, and other hot climates, thousands of these little creatures may be seen in a dark evening, flying in circles through the air.

Spell adjectives derived from these nouns :-gold, brass, lead, slate, stone, earth, silver, starch, noise, flax, wool, wood, oak, silk, wax, wheat; north, south, east, west.

DICTATION.

Her flaxen locks streamed wildly in the wind. Let the brazen trumpet sound! The old oaken bucket hung at the well. The silvery moon shone bright in the eastern sky. The howlet hides among the leafy branches. Woollen clothes are needed in northern lands. The noisy children are just let loose from school. We use much wheaten bread. The Azores are sometimes called the Western Islands. All men are brethren, children of the same Heavenly Father.

XLI.-GOOD ADVICE.

A-gi-ta'-tion, excitement.
Am-bi'-tious, aspiring.

Max'-im, sentiment, important truth.

A-rous'ed, excited, awakened.
A-va'il, profit, be of use to.
Char'-ac-ters, letters.
Con-ce'ived, devised.

Cu-ri-os'-i-ty, desire of knowing.
Deign (pr. da'n), condescend.
De-si'gn, purpose, plan.
Ex-tra-or-di-na-ry, uncommon.
Im'-pu-dent, bold, shameless.
In'-so-lent, saucy, impudent.
Lan'-cet, sharp two-edged knife.

Op-por-tu-ni-ty, favourable occasion.

Rash'-ness, indiscretion, bold

ness.

Re-flect'-ed, thought.

Ri-dic'-u-lous, absurd, laughable.
Să-lu-ta-ry, useful, wholesome.
Se'-ri-ous, grave.

Sim-ply'-ci-ty, silliness.
Sus-pi-'cion, distrust.
VY'-si-ble, apparent.

A CERTAIN king of Tartary was one day riding with his courtiers to the hunting-field. On the road they overtook a dervis, who called out as they were passing: "Give

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