Dorothy Parker: Comment

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Mating ritual of the James's Flamingo (Phoenicopterus jamesi); also known as the Puna Flamingo, it breeds on the high Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina: photo by Pedro Szekely, 19 August 2007

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Roumania.

The Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis), is a medium sized pierid butterfly found in many areas of South and Southeast Asia, especially in the non-arid regions of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. The Common Jezebel is one of the most common species in the genus Delias. This individual is male. The butterfly may be found wherever there are trees, even in towns and cities, flies high among the trees and comes lower down only to feed on nectar in flowers. It rests with its wings closed exhibiting the brilliantly coloured underside. Due to this habit apparently, it has evolved a dull upper-side and a brilliant underside so that birds below it recognise it immediately while in flight and at rest. The bright coloration is to indicate the fact that it is unpalatable due to toxins accumulated by the larvae from the host-plants. Kadavoor, Kerala, India: photo by Jkadavoor. 12 December 2010

Dorothy Parker (1893-1967): Comment, from Enough Rope (1926)

I don't care what is written about me as long as it isn't true. -- DP

Marie of Roumania: Marie Alexandra Victoria (1875-1938), born in Kent, England, the daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and the former Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, and granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She married Ferdinand of Romania in 1893, became Queen of the Romanians in 1914, and served as a nurse in World War I. They had six children. In November 1927 Marie made a triumphant tour of the United States, cut short because she had to return home for her dying husband.