64 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



of its jaws, which is occasionally a task of many 

 hours' duration. " In many instances, however," 

 write Messrs. Kirby and Spence, "the larva is 

 spared this trouble, one end of the egg being fur- 

 nished with a little lid, or trap-door, which it has 

 but to force up, and it can then emerge at pleasure. 

 Such lids are to be found in the eggs of several 

 butterflies and moths. The eggs of a species of 

 bug, besides a convex lid, are furnished with a 

 very curious machine, as it would seem, for throw- 

 ing it off. This machine is dark brown, of a 

 horny substance, and of the shape of a crossbow ; 

 the bow-part being attached to the lid, or pushing 

 against it, and the handle, by means of a mem- 

 brane, to the upper end of the side of the egg." 



But if, in our account of the various attendants 

 on the opening of spring, we had mentioned every 

 circumstance that takes place at that time, alas ! 

 for any poor insects, or, at least, for a large 

 number of them, who should be hatched at that 

 time. The warm air and gentle shower, and 

 brighter sky, would ill satisfy them in the absence 

 of all food 9 and they would be born, by a cruel 

 destiny, only to starve and die. We well know 

 this is not the case ; but there are, probably, few 



