Frances Maier, age 12, of Lansing, Mich., for her question:

HOW DID THE BUTTERFLY GET ITS NAME?

Language experts go to endless trouble to trace the original meanings of our words and where they came from. For a long time they suspected that the word butterfly originated in the Middle East. It was given, they supposed, to a certain butter colored insect that still flies around in that region. Then the original name was translated into English and shared by the butterflies of all colors.

Later investigations suggest that this is not the true story. Most likely the English word butterfly was invented by English speaking people. However, nobody can explain why this particular name was chosen. Certainly butterflies fly around. But they have no special fondness for butter, and their gorgeous wings come in all colors of the rainbow.