138 ARTiCULATES: INSECTS. 



are sluggish, and fly only in the warmest days. The 

 larvae are found together in large numbers on the 

 leaves of the birch and alder. When disturbed, they 

 take very curious attitudes, appearing to stand upon 

 the head, or they curl into the form of an S, or coil 

 themselves up with the head in the centre, and look 

 somewhat like a snail-shell. 



BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS, OR LEPIDOPTERS. 



The word Lepidopter means scaly-winged, and is 

 given to these insects because their wings are covered 

 on both sides with minute scales. These are removed 

 by the slightest touch, and to the naked eye look like 

 a mealy powder; but when seen under a microscope, 

 they are found to be little scales attached to the skin 

 by a short stem. The tongue is long, and adapted for 

 suction ; when not in use it is rolled up like a watch- 

 spring beneath the head, and partly concealed on each 

 side by a little feeler. They have six legs, the first 

 pair being short, and, in some cases, folded under the 

 breast ; and the feet end in a pair of claws. The 

 young of Butterflies and Moths are called caterpillars, 

 and these have from ten to sixteen legs. Most cater- 

 pillars feed upon the leaves of plants. Some eat buds, 

 blossoms, seeds, and roots, and others eat the solid 

 wood. Some eat woollens, others furs, others meat, 

 .lard, wax, and flour. Some kinds herd together in 

 great numbers, and build nests in which they live, or 

 to which they retire for shelter ; others live in solitude, 

 either in the light and air, or sheltered in leaves folded 

 over them, or in silken sheaths which they make ; and 

 some conceal themselves in the ground, coming forth 

 only to eat. In the middle of the lower lip there is 



