LEPIDOPTERA. 



BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. Insects without jaws, having the maxillae prolonged into a spiral sucking tube, the 

 wings broad and covered with dust-like scales. The transformations are complete. The larva? are provided with 

 six true legs, and from one pair to five of false or pro-legs. The pupa is generally inclosed in a cocoon (except 

 butterflies), and has the legs and wings soldered to the breast. 



This order has been divided into three groups, called day, dusk, and night lepidoptera, or butterflies, sphinges, and 

 moths. Butterflies are distinguished from moths by having the antenna; knobbed or thickened at the end ; while the 

 antenna; of hawk-moths are thickened in the middle, those of moths are either simple or feathered. As these are 

 the most delicate of all insects they should be carefully handled, to avoid injuring the specimen by rubbing the dust 

 or scales from the wings. They are most easily captured with a gauze net, after which they may be killed with 

 benzine or ether, or by slightly pinching the thorax, taking care to have the wings folded together over the back, 

 then pinned and placed in the collecting box. 



As entomology does not consist in simply knowing an insect in the perfect state, or being able to give its scientific 

 name, a knowledge of its habits and transformations is necessary. To obtain this the student should collect and rear 

 caterpillars, watching them through their different changes, and closely observing every particular connected with 

 their metamorphoses. 



Feeding boxes may be of any size, though boxes a foot square are the most convenient. They should have good 

 ventilation, and the atmosphere kept moist by a few inches of damp sand and earth in the bottom. For species 



541^8 



