Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1906 — Water Butterflies. [ARTICLE]

Water Butterflies.

lteal water butterflies spread their lovely wings in the clear wavelets of the blue Mediterranean. Their scientific name is pteropoda, or wing footed. The commonest is perhaps the “boat butterfly.’’ His body seems formed round a tiny brown kernel, the size of a grain of wheat, and is covered with a shell soft as gristle and almost transparent. His wings are large, roun<J and clear as glass—so clear that before they can be examined they must be put in a saucer of water against a black ground. The shell is so loose that a mere touch separates it from the body. All the sea butterflies have on their tongues rows of strong pointed hooks. They are all flesh eaters. It is wonderful to watch through the transparent shell and almost equally transparent body the motions of the heart. These butterflies lay eggs. Just like the laud ones, and, like the land ones, are fond of warmth and light.