formidable sum then.

INSECT STUDIES

BUTTERFLIES

(1) Haiku.

[1] "The modest nymph beheld her God, and blushed." (Or, in a more
familiar rendering: "The modest water saw its God, and blushed.") In
this line the double value of the word nympha--used by classical poets
both in the meaning of fountain and in that of the divinity of a
fountain, or spring--reminds one of that graceful playing with words
which Japanese poets practice.

[2] More usually written nugi-kakeru, which means either "to take off
and hang up," or "to begin to take off,"--as in the above poem. More
loosely, but more effectively, the verses might thus be rendered: "Like
a woman slipping off her haori--that is the appearance of a butterfly."
One must have seen the Japanese garment described, to appreciate the
comparison. The haori is a silk upper-dress,--a kind of sleeved
cloak,--worn by both sexes; but the poem suggests a woman's haori,
which is usually of richer color or material. The sleeves are wide; and
the lining is usually of brightly-colored silk, often beautifully
variegated. In taking off the haori, the brilliant lining is
displayed,--and at such an instant the fluttering splendor might well
be likened to the appearance of a butterfly in motion.

[3] The bird-catcher's pole is smeared with bird-lime; and the verses
suggest that the insect is preventing the man from using his pole, by
persistently getting in the way of it,--as the birds might take warning
from seeing the butterfly limed. Jama suru means "to hinder" or
"prevent."

[4] Even while it is resting, the wings of the butterfly may be seen
to quiver at moments,--as if the creature were dreaming of flight.

[5] A little poem by Basho, greatest of all Japanese composers of
hokku. The verses are intended to suggest the joyous feeling of
spring-time.

[6] Literally, "a windless day;" but two negatives in Japanese poetry
do not necessarily imply an affirmative, as in English. The meaning is,
that although there is no wind, the fluttering motion of the
butterflies suggests, to the eyes at least, that a strong breeze is
playing.

[7] Alluding to the Buddhist proverb: Rakkwa eda ni kaerazu; ha-kyo
futatabi terasazu ("The fallen flower returns not to the branch; the
broken mirror never again reflects.") So says the proverb--yet it
seemed to me that I saw a fallen flower return to the branch... No: it
was only a butterfly.

[8] Alluding probably to the light flutte