500 



NATL'KAL HISTORY. 



Sub-class II. INSECT A HAUSTELLATA. (Lat. haurirc, to suck up.) 



Order I LEPIDOPTERA. (Gr. AeTrfcaScale; 7irepov,awing.) 



Family .... Papiliomdae. (Lat. Papilio, a Butterfly.) 



r.vPiLio. 



Machaon (Gr. a proper name], the Swallow-tailed Butterfly.* 



These scales vary in size and shape, according to the species, 

 or the part of the wing from which they are taken. Under 

 the microscope they are most exquisite objects, and well repay 

 a long and careful examination. 



The Lepidoptera pass through three distinct changes before 

 assuming their perfect form. They first exist in the larva 

 state, in which state they are called caterpillars. They then 

 pass to the pupa state, when they are known by the name of 

 "aurelias"f or " chrysalides, "$ both words being derived 

 from words signifying gold, from the golden lustre of the 

 pupa of certain butterflies. When they have remained in 

 the pupa state during a time, varying from a few days to two 

 years, they burst their shells and issue forth in their full and 

 perfect beauty. This transformation has for many ages been 

 used as an illustration of the resurrection after death. 



The beautiful insect represented above is not very un- 



* This figure is about one-third smaller than the insect, 

 t Xpiicroj, gold. 



t Lat. Aurum, gold. 



