IXTRODVCTIOX. ■ xix 



HABITS AND FUNCTIONS OF LEPIDOPTERA. 



Flii^ht.— The character of the flight of Lcpidoptcra depends upon the strength and structure 

 of the wings. In the larger butterflies it is generally sailing, but in the smaller butterflies, as well 

 as in the Geometrce, and in many Boiiibyccs and Micro-Lcpidoptcra, it is more fluttering. In the 

 Sphinges ?ind Noctiice it is rushing. In some species it is direct, and sometimes dancing, jerking, or 

 hovering. The flight maybe quick or slow, and is sometimes long sustained. Several of the larger 

 Spliiiigcs are only occasional visitors in Central Europe, to which they extend their flight in warm 

 seasons from the shores of the Mediterranean. Among these may be mentioned Clicerocanipa Ncrii 

 and Cclerio, and Dcilcpliila Livornica, which can scarcely be regarded as indigenous insects with 

 us, although they are met with both as larvje and as perfect insects. Achcrontia Atropos and 

 other insects not unfrequently fly on board vessels sailing at a distance of hundreds of miles 

 from land. On the other liand, the females of many Bombyccs and Gcotnctriz, even those which 

 have fully-developed wings, fly with difficulty or not at all, although the males of the same 

 species are more active. 



The position of the iviiigs at rest is very various. Most butterflies and many Geometrce 

 hold their wings erect and almost touching each other. Among the other Lepidoptera, some 

 of the Bombyces and Geometry spread their wings out flat, so that the hind-wings are but little 

 covered by the fore-wings. In the great majority of the moths the fore-wings lie close to the 

 body and cover the hind-wings completely, or so far that only the costa of the hind-wings projects 

 beyond them. The hind-wings are then generally folded together, but the fore-wings either slope, 

 roof-like, on both sides, more or less steeply; or they he together almost in the same plane; or they 

 are pressed together flat, with the inner margins lapped over each other ; or they are folded round 

 the body to some extent. The body generally rests flat on the surface when the insect sits, 

 but the thorax or abdomen is sometimes raised. The antennse are often laid backwards 

 against the body under the wings, and are seldom extended, except in butterflies. 



The food of Lepidoptera consists of the honey of flowers, or the moisture exuding from 

 trees and plants, or fruits, or, in some rare cases, from putrid or excrementitious substances. 

 They also frequently imbibe moisture from damp ground. They feed solely on liquid sub- 

 stances, which they suck up through their spiral tongue. Most species feed at rest, but the 

 Sphinges and many Noetuce hover over flowers without alighting. They are sometimes captured 

 by adhesive or by insect-feeding plants ; or leave a portion of their tongue fixed in a flower 

 in their struggles to escape, as already mentioned. Many moths, especially Bombyccs and 

 Tincina, require no nourishment at all, when the tongue is either absent or very slightly 

 developed ; and these only live a few hours. But even tongueless Lcpidoptcra will occasionally 

 visit sugared trees, &c., and probably derive either nourishment or pleasure from the 

 surrounding odour. 



Reproduction. — Butterflies generally pair while flying in the sunshine, but moths pair while 

 at rest ; and united couples are frequently met with. The males seek out the females ; and as 

 many of the latter are incapable of flight, or fly but little, the males have a peculiar power, not 

 yet perfectly understood, of discovering virgin females at a great distance. The readiest way 

 of obtaining the males of many Bombyccs is to carry an unfertilised female in your pocket to 

 the place where the insect occurs, when the males will often swarm round you, and some- 

 times even endeavour to creep into your pocket. But the moment a meeting is permitted 

 the attraction ceases, and the males disappear at once. This method of collecting is called 

 " assembling," and succeeds admirably with such species as the Oak Eggar, Kentish Glory, &c. 



