Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/174

 proffered executorship, explaining to the venerable tiger-moth that he himself was about to die.

Now, by one of those wonderful coincidences peculiar to fairy tales, a dragon-fly, a gnat, and two small flies, all bowed down by weight of years, settled in the neighbourhood of the two lepidoptera. After much mutual condolence, the six insects began to quarrel about their respective adventures, each bragging that he had seen far more wonderful things than had any of his companions. The dragon-fly became very much excited, and though very feeble, he clashed his mandibles together in a manner that filled the smaller insects with dismay. The butterfly, who was an insect of a very superior turn of mind, put an end to this disagreeable scene.

"My friends," he exclaimed, in a solemn voice, "is it wise to waste the few short hours that remain to us in vain discussion? Would it not be more becoming in old insects like us to sit down quietly, and relate our adventures without quarrelling? Depend upon it, Nature has not formed us differently, and endowed us with distinct faculties, for a mere freak, but because we may be better fitted to enjoy the sweets of life in our separate spheres. Consider, my dear dragon, what pitiable objects you and I would be were we to exchange wings! How could you support your long body with my painted wings, and how could I work your gauzy