2 The Butterflies and Moths of Teneriffe. 



the fore and tlie hind wings. These are covered with a 

 downy substance, like feathered scales, which are most 

 beautiful when seen under a microscope, and vary 

 much in form. It is in these that the colouring-matter 

 resides, which gives the beautiful colour to different 

 species. Lepidoptera have six legs ; in some, however, 

 the fore-legs are so short and inconspicuous that the 

 insect almost appears to have only four legs. The pro- 

 boscis or trunk is a long flexible double tube through 

 which the animal sucks the juices of the flowers ; it is 

 curled up under the thorax like a watch-spring, and ex- 

 pands at will. It varies much in length both in moths 

 and butterflies. The antennae are the horns or feelers 

 of the insect, and are believed to contain the organs of 

 smell. They vary much in size and thickness, and are 

 most important as regards the classification of the 

 different species of Lepidoptera. They are generally of 

 considerable length in a butterfly, increasing in thickness 

 at the end till a sort of long knob is formed. 



Moths are distinguished from butterflies by a few 

 simple characteristics, which can be seen at a glance. 



First, with some few exceptions, of which the Humming 



