Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-09-14

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4 Talk with the Children about Buitcrflics.

There is hardly child among the Vermont
hills but has had a good run after butterfly.
Usually it proves a tantalizing race, for when
within reach, it will often noiseessly fly
away speedily, at first, and then with such
wayward, halting motion as to again excite
hope and quicken the chase. And there are
many old children with gray heads, and whose
feet ara about through with walking, much
less running, who cannot see a butterfly fit
gaily past, without iis sending them back to
the excitements of butterfly race in the
years long gone when gorgeous fellow like
this one here, securely pinned to the window
sill, would light wondrously near at hand on
thistle-head or a stone, hot in the sunshine.
OFF with the hat aud after him Away he
fits down the garden, over the wall, along
the dusty road Hot and close the pursuer
follows, but the wings are too speedy for the
feet and the airy creature flies away over the
meadow and beyond the brook or, at rare
times, the victim was caught by some sly,
quick movement Of the old straw hat But
when the little brown hands stole cautiously
under the ragged brim AMI brought out the
prize, it was but sorry looking thing, its
wings torn and their delicate beauty all
rubbed off, the huttering, mutilated little
thing was not worth half the trouble.
With a little preparation and some care,
all kinds Of Lepidoptera can be caught unin-
jured, aud their beauty preserved a joy for
ever,
\ very simple implement is required for
catching them, a bottle of benzine or ether
for killing them and a box or drawer for
keeping them. The catcher is made with a
handle eight feet long, with a stout wire bent
in the shape of hoop and fastened firmly in
to the end oft Around this wire is sewed
bag Of the same size as the hoop and cigh-
teen inches deep, made Of musquito netting or
some such material. Any ingenious boy can
manage to make one, with little help about
the sewing, maybe l know one that has
done a good service in the field, that was
made Of an old rake handle the bail of a tin
pail and part of an old muslin curtain
1t is very easy to throw the bag over q
butterfly, either during its flight or when a
rest. 1t will generally light on the bag
when by a turn of the handle the mouth vii
be covered by the muslin, and the hand car
easily take the prey by the wings which are
shut together over its back. In this way, the
delicate down, or feathers rather Of the up
per surface Of the wings is not ruflcd; ther
pour little ether on its abdomen, where th'
only breathing apparatus it has ia found
1t will die very quietly aud without pain
When it is quite dead the large eyes in th
sides of tho head turn gray, and the lonl
tongue which is generally coiled Ikea watch
spring, under its nose, will uncoi. Whei
these signs are noticed, carefully open tn
wings and stick needle or better still, an in
sect pin, through the joint of the body an'
abdomen faston it firmly in board or boz
carried for the purpose if it is caught in tn
field; open the wings in the shape Of lette
V and put cotton over and under them t
keep them in place. 1t will dry so in shor
time, when it is ready for itspermanent home
There is always danger of moths eatinl
off the antennG, heads and wings, if insect
are kept for any length of time Turpentin
poured on them, is said to prevent this.
1t will be astonishing in how short tim
and with how much pleasure a handsome col
o lection of butteaies can be made in your ow
+ town or county, and the regular marking
colors and delicate feathers are an unceasin
source of delight. A. S. II.