THE WINGS OF INSECTS. 



26 



the wings after the scales have been removed the ner- 

 vures will be found to vary in different genera and spe- 

 cies, although they are similar in all the individuals of 

 a species ; the annexed cut shows the nervures in the 

 wings of a very beautiful butterfly which is very com- 

 mon in the neighbourhood of Plymouth in the Spring 

 and Autumn, called the 



PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. 



The gorgeous colouring of the wings of butterflies 

 and moths '^ is owing to the scales with which they are 

 clothed ; De Geerf and Reaumur J difler as to the ap- 

 proximation of these scales to true scales or feathers, 

 however, they seem to hold a medium place, having 



* It is very difficult to make coloured drawings of insects which 

 are perfectly true to nature ; the most faithful and beautiful which the 

 writer has seen are those of his friend Dr. W. A. Bromfield of Has- 

 tings, and also those of Miss Hennah of Plymouth : the best ento- 

 mological engravings which have come under his observation are the 

 plates in J.F.Stephens' ^'Illustrations of British Entomology/, ^^ 

 and some of those in the work of Christian Sepp, entitled " Bes- 

 chowing der wonderen Gods inde minstgrachte schepgelen of Neder- 

 landsche-insecten, Sfc,,'' a book hot much known in England except 

 to Entomologists. 



t De Geer, i. 63. J Reaumur, i. 200. 



VOL. II.— 1833. D 



