Orange-and-black butterflies have been seen to settle on a dead bush, and cover its branches like gay leaves. They hang, in such a case, with their wings folded against each other, and their backs down. They do not cling one to another, as bees, when they swarm. [Illustration: AS NIGHT DRAWS NEAR.] A gentleman saw a great number of blue-spotted butterflies, rising from some low pine-trees, where they seemed to have spent the night. Another gentleman saw a very great swarm of the orange-and-black butterfly, which hovers about the milk-weed. Hundreds of small, copper-red butterflies sometimes light together on a hot, dusty road. Even the fine swallow-tails have been seen in numbers together, when attracted by the honey and perfume of a lilac-bush. Some butterflies eat less than others, and spend much time sitting in the sun, opening and shutting their vans or wings. They seem very fond of play. You will see them whirling about, and chasing each other, like children at a good game. Some butterflies have a way of flying at whatever they see in motion. If you toss a glove, ball, or little basket, into the air, they dart at it. They seem curious to know what it is. Did you ever see a little copper-colored butterfly, with black spots, darting at a big beetle or grasshopper? These little fellows seem to lie in wait under the leaves, and rush out at whatever goes by, just as little dogs dash out from gate-ways! Let us now talk a little about the colors of butterflies. The upper and under sides of the wings often differ much. The upper side is much brighter than the under side. Do you see a reason for this? The insect flies with the wings spread out in full view. Its flight is not even and straight. It moves in jerks, called “flitting,” and it dashes here and there, zig-zag. This way of flying makes it very difficult for a bird to pick up a butterfly on the wing. Thus the pretty insect is safe enough when he flies. But it would be easy to pick him up when he lights. So the upper side of his wings shows most of his beauty, and the under side, which only is shown when he rests, is shaded like a dry leaf, or is of the hue of the plants upon which he often sits. Not only is the butterfly protected by the graver color of the under side of its vans, but it wears the general flower-color of the season, or of its home. In spring, you know how many of the flowers are blue, or partly blue. The violets, the hyacinths, the purple crocus, the liverwort, and many more, are blue, and among them fly blue butterflies. There are more blue ones in spring, than at any other time of year. Also, in spring, there are many yellow butterflies. You will hardly be able to distinguish them at first glance, from the buttercups, dandelions, crocuses, and cowslips, upon which they rest.