BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 275 



butterflies usually fly in the day time, are brightly 

 coloured, but have a zigzag flight by means of which 

 they dodge their enemies. Some few species only 

 fly at dusk. The wings in repose are usually erect, 

 and the underside is very often marked in such a 

 way as to blend with the surroundings — this is a 

 protection. Some butterflies, when in repose, re- 

 semble leaves. 



Moths. The antennae of motlis vary in form 

 (Plate 36, Figs. 5, a, b and c) ; they are not clubbed 

 except in a few instances. The constriction be- 

 tween the thorax and abdomen is less, or is hidden 

 by thick hairs or ' ' fur. ' ' 



Moths fly most frequently at night: such forms 

 as fly in the day are termed ' ' day-moths ; ' ' ex. grape 

 vine moths. The wings are held horizontally in re- 

 pose, and on the whole sombre colours prevail which 

 often blend with the surroundings. The mottling 

 and marking of many of the moths make the wings 

 of some of them most exquisite studies in soft 

 colours. 



Taking a general view of the life history of the 

 Lepidoptera, we find that the eggs are deposited 

 on or near the food supply of the larva,' which is 

 mainly vegetable. From the egg comes the larva 

 (Plate 35, Fig. 1), which is a caterpillar, which may 

 be smooth, hairy, or* ornamented with spines (Plate 

 38, Fig. 2). The larva has usually three pairs of 

 horny legs, four pairs of fleshy legs, and two anal 

 claspers. It eats voraciously, and moults or sheds 

 its skin several times. Having reached the condi- 

 tion of the full-grown larva, it changes into the 

 pupa or resting stage, in which it eats no more and 



