lyO THE INSECT WORLD. 



transversely, one sees, according to Reaumur,* that the interior is' 

 composed of three small rings. Consequently, there are three canals 

 in the trunk : one central, the other two lateral (Fig. 138). Are all 

 these three used to conduct the juice of flowers into the butterfly's 

 body ? Reaumur has made some very interesting observations on 

 this subject, by observing a moth which was sucking a lump of 

 sugar whilst its portrait was being taken. 



" 1 held in one hand," says Reaumur, " a powerful magnifying 

 glass, which I brought near to that part of 

 the trunk I wished to examine ; I was some- 

 times half a minute, or nearly a minute, 

 without perceiving anything, after which I 

 saw clearly a little column of liquid mounting 

 quickly along the whole length of the trunk. 

 Often this column appeared to be intersected 

 by little balls, which seemed to be globules of 

 air which had been drawn up with the liquid. 

 "This liquid ascended thus during three or 

 four seconds, and then ceased. At the end 

 of an interval of a greater number of seconds, 

 or sometimes after an interval as short, I saw 

 Section of fluttSfly-s Trunk. ^^^^ frcsh liquid mounting up along the trunk 

 after Reaumur. But it was Straight up the middle of the trunl 



that it seemed to ascend. 

 " The Author of Nature has given to insects means of working 

 which, though very simple, we cannot divine, and which often w 

 are not able even to perceive. Whilst I was observing the trunk c 

 our butterfly, between the columns of liquid which I saw ascending 

 there were, but more rarely, times when I saw, on the contrar) 

 liquid descending from the base of the trunk to the point. Th 

 descending liquid occupied half or two-thirds of the tube. It wa 

 no longer difficult to perceive how the butterfly is able to nouris 

 itself on honey, the thickest syrup, and even the most solid suga 

 The fluid it sends down is probably very liquid ; it drives against th 

 sugar, moistens, and dissolves it. The butterfly pumps this liquid r 

 again when it is charged with sugar, and conducts it along as far ; 

 the base of its trunk, and beyond it." 



The life of the perfect insect is generally very short. Like near 

 all other insects, they die as soon as they have propagated the 

 species. The female lays her eggs, which vary in shape, on the pla 



* Planche 9, Fig. 10, 5e Memoire, ** Sur les parties exterieures des papillons.^ 



