CHAPTER XXVII 



ORDER LEPIDOPTERA* 



The Moths, the Skippers, and the Butterflies 



The winged members of this order have four wings; these are mem- 

 branous, and covered with overlapping scales. The mouth-parts are 

 formed for sucking. The metamorphosis is complete. 



The members of this order, the moths, the skippers, and the 

 butterflies, are well known to every ob- 

 server of nature. Their most easily ob- 

 served distinguishing characteristic is 

 that which suggested the name of the 

 order, the scaly covering of the wings 

 and body. Every lad that lives in the 

 country knows that the wings of moths 

 and butterflies are covered with dust, 

 which comes off upon one's fingers 

 when these insects are handled. This 

 dust when examined with a microscope 

 is found to be composed of very minute 

 scales of regular form; and when a 

 wing is looked at in the same way, the 

 scales are seen arranged with more or 

 less regularity upon it (Fig. 706). 

 The body, the legs, and other appendages are also covered with scales 



Fig. 706. — Part of a wing of a 

 butterfly, greatly magnified. 



Fig. 707. — Scales of Euclea delphinii. (After 

 Kellogg.) 



*Lepid6ptera: lepido (Keirls, \eirlSos), scale; pteron {irTepdv), a wing. 



(571) 



