MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 305 



hawk-moth of the willow bein^ oHce brought me, upon 

 placing it upon my hand, after ejecting a milky fluid 

 from its anus, it put its wings and body into a most ra- 

 pid vibration, which continued more than a minute, 

 ivhen it flew away. — A butterfly, called by Aurelians 

 " The large skipper," {Ilesperia Sj/hanus, F.) when 

 it alights, — which it does very often, for they are never 

 long on the wing, — always turns half-way round ; so 

 that, if it settles with its head from you, it turns it to- 

 wards you. 



Others of the motions in question are merely those 

 of parts. Butterflies, when standing still in the sun, 

 as you have doubtless often observed, 



" Their golden pinions ope and close;" 



thus, it should seem, unless this motion be connected 

 with their respiration, altei'nately warming and cool- 

 ing tiieir bodies. — You have probably noticed a very 

 common little fly, of a shining black, with a black spot 

 at the end of its wings (Tephritis vibrans, Latr,, Seio' 

 pte7'a, K. Ms.). It has received its trivial name (d«- 

 brans) from the constant vibration which, when re- 

 posing, it imparts to its wings. This motion also, I 

 have reason to think, assists its respiration. — Some in- 

 sects when awake are very active Avith their antenna, 

 though their bodies are at rest. I remember one even- 

 ing attending for some time to the proceedings of one 

 of those may-flies {Phri/ganea, L.) that are remark- 

 able, like certain moths, for their long antennae. It was 

 perched upon a blade of grass, and kept moving these 

 organs, which were twice as long as itself, in aH direc- 

 tions, as if by means of them it was exploring every 



VOL. 11. X 



