WALK XI. BUTTERFLIES-HAWKMOTH-SILKWORM-CLOTHES-MOTH-MOTH MOUNTAIN -DRAGON-FLY-EPHEMERA-ANT-LION-HORNET-WASPS-BEES-ANTS -GADFLIES-CRANE-FLIES SPIDERS EARTH-WORMS-TAPE-WORM SLUGS-FLUKE-WORM-ACARIS-LEECHES-SEA-ANEMONE-CUTTLE-FISH -STAR-FISH. MR. PERCY. What is the next order of insects? Did we finish Hemiptera? EDWARD. Yes; the next is LEPIDOPTERA, or the insects which have scaly wings, as the word means. THEY HAVE FOUR WINGS, AND ARE COVERED WITH SCALES. The order includes all the species of Butterflies; and how many are there? About twelve hundred have been noticed in our country; and there are many more in foreign lands. The variety which God has formed in a single tribe of insects is very wonderful. They all proceed from eggs, do they not? They do; these eggs are of every variety of form and colour, and are exceedingly beautiful, as seen through a common glass. And what a variety of positions are they placed in! and not one of them is deposited anywhere without an obvious reason; principally where they may be secure, and where their young may find food as soon as they come into existence. And what a variety there is in the caterpillars! Some are smooth, and others are covered with spines and hairs; and they exhibit the same variety of colour as of shape. Their antennæ end in a knob. I think you said they laid two or three hundred eggs. They do. Its tongue or proboscis, you may see, as I have shown you, with the naked eye, wound up like the spring of a watch, in eight rounds; at the end it is divided into two tubes, by which it gathers its sweet food from the flowers. How beautiful the wings were which you showed me through the microscope ! What were they like? A fine leaf covered with little pearls, all admirably fitted together. Your comparison is not amiss, Edward. They do not fly like birds, but in a zig-zag course; they ascend and descend. It has been supposed they do so to disappoint the aim of the birds. The large White Cabbage-butterfly* is well known. I have often found her eggs and caterpillars in great abundance. But how is it that the willowbutterfly lays its eggs on the willow, and the cabbage-butterfly on the cabbage? What I mean is, How is it that they don't mistake? I don't know; but, if the cabbage-butterfly should leave her eggs on the willow, the young would perish. But why need she trouble herself about that, as she will never know them? I cannot tell you. It is the will of its Creator. He has made it, though the insect knows nothing of it, to act as it does. And then, why does she fasten them down with glue? Does she know that they may be driven away by the wind, and destroyed? me. Your whys and hows, Edward, effectually puzzle The most beautiful of the British butterflies is the Purple Emperor.* Its caterpillar feeds on the oak. It usually, when in its perfect state, takes up its abode on the topmost branch of this tree, when it is not on the wing. The one I caught had beautiful eye-like spots on its wings, which were of a fine brown colour, mingled with a shining blue, and some gold; but I know not how to describe it. The hues are so finely blended, that it is difficult. But it would take a volume to examine this one tribe; it is so extensive, and so wonderful. The SPHINX or HAWK-MOTH TRIBE* belongs to this order; it is so named, from its supposed resemblance to the Egyptian sphinx. I brought you one of these caterpillars; it was green, with seven purple and white stripes along each side. There was a horn at the end of the body, pointing backwards. Should it It is now in my study, in a pupa state. become perfect, we shall find it a very beautiful insect. The Moths belong to this tribe; and it would require some months to go through their history. The Silkworm† is among the most remarkable and useful of them; but, as you have watched them so attentively for several seasons, you know all that can be said about them. The MOTH TRIBE have their antenna thickest near the base. Does not the Clothes-moth belong to this tribe? * * Sphinx atropos. † Phalena mori. |