48 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



of these slender pillars the eggs are secure from 

 every invader but man himself, and in time there 

 comes from them the larva which is to become the 

 beautiful insect, the " lace-winged fly," in all the 

 elegance of its form. 



From what has been already stated, the surface 

 of the eggs of insects, it will be perceived, is by 

 no means in all cases smooth and polished as in 

 the case of birds. Far otherwise. To look at 

 some of them by the help of a magnifying glass 

 we should imagine that they were covered with 

 very fine lace net, others appear as if some clever 

 engraver had been chasing some intricate design 

 upon their surface. The eggs of a species of 

 butterfly are studded over with an infinite number 

 of little knots or tubercles ; and those of another 

 are capped at the top with sculptured work dis- 

 posed in the form of a circular tiling or roof to 

 the egg. Some also closely resemble embossed 

 buttons. 



He who has thus adorned these minute objects 

 with beauty of form and carving, has likewise 

 bestowed upon them the most beautiful and 

 variegated colours colours such as no human 

 art can imitate. But from the small size of the 



