ORDER IV. MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 195 



illusions of youth and happiness, being actually *' rocked to 

 sleep in a cradle of flowers." 



For these reasons the butterflies have always been ad- 

 mired more than any other insect, and have attracted uni- 

 versal attention from every people, and in every clime where 

 they have been found. Especially are they the favorites 

 of the youth; so much so, that in some countries — as, for 

 instance, Germany and France — almost every town has its 

 youthful amateurs who collect and exhibit them in glass 

 cases. In China and the Indies these collections form a 

 part of their exports, which generally meet with a ready sale. 

 The pencil and the brush of many a distinguished artist has 

 been occupied with them ; and there are now in existence 

 a greater number of splendid works, descriptive and illus- 

 trative of them, than any other class of animals can boast. 



For the sake of our readers who desire to investigate 

 these works, we refer to a few of the best, which are beau- 

 tifully illustrated with well-colored and generally accurate 

 engravings. 



Roesel's Insecten Belustigung (Amusements widi the Insects), 



Merian, Insecta Surinamensia. 



Drurt's Exotic Insects. 



Esper's Europdische Schmetterlinge (European Butterflies). 



Esper's Ausldndische Schmetterlinge (Exotic Butterflies). 



Erxst et ExGRAiiELLE, PapilUons d Europe. 



Herbst's Schmetterlinge (Butterflies). 



IIubxer's Schmetterlinge (Butterflies). 



Donnovak's Insects of China, India, and New Holland. 



Abbot's Natural History of the Insects of Georgia. 



BoiSDirvAL et Leconte, Lepidopteres de lAmerique Septentrionale. 



TuoMAS Say's American Entomology. 



Notwithstanding the beauty of the butterflies, and their 

 apparently happy life, they are extremely selfish in their 

 habits, and on this account their faculties seem very limit- 

 ed in comparison with other insects. We never find tlicm 

 united in democratic republics, like the ants ; or in a consti- 



