Don't nebber, not for nuffin, think ob countin' ob yo' string; 'Kase ef you do, you ain't a-gwine to cotch anoder thing; But ef a sarpent-doctor bug sh'd 'light upon de pole, You knows you's good for cotchin' all de fishes in de hole. Dah! now you has de science what a fisherman sh'd know; So, any time yo' ready, all you has to do's to go, An' toiler dem instruckshuns--ef you does it, to de notch, Good marster! won't it s'prise de folks to see de mess you cotch! [Illustration: MAGPIE. 2/3 Life-size. FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES. COPYRIGHT 1900, BY A. W. MUMFORD, CHICAGO.] THE MAGPIE. (_Pica pica hudsonica._) This is a rare winter visitor and not much known. Its nest is a very bulky and somewhat remarkable structure, composed exteriorly of sticks of various sizes, forming a spherical mass, the upper portion of which forms a canopy to the nest proper, the entrance being through one side. The eggs are usually six in number, but often as many as nine, and are of a pale olive or grayish white color, thickly speckled with olive-brown. The magpie can be taught to talk, is intelligent and inquisitive, and has many of the characteristics of the raven. A BUTTERFLY'S HISTORY. (_The Troilus._) ELLA F. MOSBY. The _Troilus_ belongs to the knights or chevaliers, and is a beautiful creature. His front wings are velvety black, spotted with yellow; his hind wings blue, elegantly scalloped, with a long streamer at the end, and when he lifts his wings, the under side is also lovely in marking and color. His double tongue forms a tube for sucking honey from deep flower cups, and may also be coiled up like a lasso when not used. His knobbed antennæ are supposed to be organs of scent by which he detects the perfume of blossoms or of other butterflies. For butterflies have distinct odors; the mountain silver spot smells like sandalwood, and other butterflies have the delicate fragrance of jasmine, thyme, balsam or violets. The anosia butterfly has a faint smell of honey. The sight of the butterfly, in spite of his single and compound eyes, the latter made up of many shining facets like cut gems, is not believed to be very keen. It is thought that while he perceives color in mass, he has little perception of form, and is easily deceived. The white butterflies, for instance, alight on the white-veined and spotted leaves in a garden, while seeking white blossoms. No organs of hearing have ever been discovered, and, for the most part, the movements of the butterfly are noiseless as drifting snow-flakes, the only exception being a slight click from a sudden closing of the wings, or in rapid flight.