INSECTS. 135 



They Lave been divided, according to the times of their 

 appearance, into three groups. Those that fly diu-ing the day 

 (Diurna), or Butterflies; those that appear in the twilight 

 (Crcpuscularia), or Hawk-moths; and those that com^ forth 

 at night (N'octurna), or Mollis; and though this an-angement 

 is not very precise, it will be sufficiently so for our present 

 purpose. 



]\lany of the most splendid British Butterflies are not found 

 in Ireland; and several species — as, for example, the Pea- 

 cock lUitterfly {Fiff. 1 16)— are taken in the South of Ireland, 

 but arc quite unknown in the North. Hence, as certain kinds 

 have but a limited range, each change of place brings fresh 

 objects of interest before the eye of the natm-alist; and as the 

 appciirance of different species is periodical, a similar gratifi- 

 cation is connected with each change of season. 



Sometimes lepidopterous insects, of species rare or unknown 

 in a certain locality, appear tliere in considerable numbers for 

 a few days and then vanish not to be seen again for years. 

 Why they do so, is a question which, in the present state of 

 our knowledge, we are quite unable to answer. 



But apart altogether from tlie consideration of such pheno- 

 mena, the person who studies the habits of this tribe of beings 

 will, in all seasons, and in the most limited locality, find full 

 scope for his mental activity. What can be a more common 

 occurrence than the escape of the Nettle Butterfly from the 

 chrysalis-case. Yet, let any one mark the progress of the 

 l)hcnomcna from the time the insect bursts its prison-house 

 until the miniature wings have expanded to their full extent 

 and are ready for flight, and he will admit the truth which 

 Ray long since inculcated. " There is a greater depth of art 

 and skill in the structure of the meanest insect than thou art 

 able for to fathom or comprehend."* 



The Lepidoptera of the second great division — those which 



•Wisdom of God in Creatinn, published 1690. The author, John 

 Kay, F. R. S. born in Ksscx, 1G27, was the son of parents of humble 

 rank. He was the founder of true principles of classification, both in 

 Botany and Zoolojj}-, and was not more respected for his scientific 

 attainments than fur his benevolence and his hiirh moral and religious 

 worth. An association for the publisliing of valuable natural historj' 

 works, has recently been established in these kiriRdonis, and has called 

 itself " the Kay Society," in honour of this truly illiLstrious man. It 

 consists of nearly a thousand members; to some of its publications we 

 have more than once referred. 



