Practical Hints Respecting Moths and Butterflies (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. MAECH. We are now entering upon our Entomological campaign in good earnest; sharp, biting January has passed, and February fill dyke no longer throws his snowy mantle over the earth, burying the face of nature under a garment of dazzling whiteness?but still, although we have entered upon a spring month, we are reminded by unmistakeable signs that it is the first of them, for stern old winter still does battle bravely for the ascendancy?disputing with blue-eyed spring the dominion of this hemisphere ? resolutely refusing to retire to his icy northern caves without a struggle. No sooner does spring with mild and genial hand unlock the icy fetters of the brook?cause the sap to rise, and entice the pale primrose to unfold its buds?than whew with the force of an avalanche, and the malice of a fury, the icy tyrant sends forth from his gelid caves the furious northern blast, withering all beneath its paralyzing touch? and so the battle rages, spring meekly retiring before the onslaught of her merciless opponent, until, worn out with useless bluster, and the gentle, but effectual, power of his meek-eyed rival, the northern bully retires to his icy caves and spring resumes her sway. And now, with returning spring, the country begins to wear a smiling face, the young and tender buds of the hawthorn, if the weather is mild, begin to show themselves, ornamenting the young wood with little green spots; the birch, too, puts forth her shiny buds, in which the larvae of Argyresthia Gcedartella and Argyresthia Brocheella live at ease, making a dainty meal upon the yet unexpanded leaves, as well as under its shiny bark?while in open places in the woods, at the root of the forest monarch, the pretty little wind-flower (Anemone nemorosa) opens its delicate white flo...