SECTION II. — LARViE.* 



Chapter VI. 



Structure of Caterpillars, Grubs, and Maggots, 



It is reported by Boerhaave, in his life of Swam- 

 merdarn, that when the Grand Duke of Tuscany was 

 visiting the curiosities of Holland, in 1668, he found 

 nothing more worthy of his admiration than the na- 

 turalist's account of the structure of caterpillars, — for 

 Swammerdam, by the skilful management of instru- 

 ments of wonderful delicacy and tineness, showed 

 the prince in what manner the future butterfly lies 

 neatly folded up in the caterpillar, like a flower in 

 the unexpanded bud. He was, indeed, so struck 

 with this and other wonders of the insect world, dis- 

 closed to him by the great naturalist, that he made 

 him a princely offer to induce him to reside at his 

 court; but Swammerdam, from feelings of indepen- 

 dence, modestly declined to accept it, preferring to 

 continue his delightful studies at home. The facts 

 which thus struck the Duke with admiration, we shall 

 now endeavour, with the aid of Swammerdam, to 

 trace. But, before we proceed, it may not be out of 

 place to advert to some very novel views which have 



* Tt may be proper to repeat here, that an insect, when 

 hatched from the egg, is culled by naturalists larva ; and in 

 popular language, a caterpillar or griih, if furnished with feet, 

 iind a maggot, worm, or gentle, if without feet. 



