252 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



the perfect form, it is always neither more nor 

 less than a pupa. Through this stage all perfect in- 

 sects pass, although they may put on various forms 

 and aspects while they are in it, and may possess 

 various, and, perhaps, very opposite faculties 

 during its continuance. If this important fact is 

 borne in mind, there will be no risk of being mis- 

 led by the confusion of sounds and names, which 

 some have been pleased to encumber insect history 

 with. 



In order to form a clear conception of these 

 variations, reference may be made to the en- 

 graving on the next page, in which we have caused 

 to be represented the five different kinds of pupae, 

 as they were named and classified by Linnaeus. 

 This plate will sufficiently manifest the necessity 

 of an explanation upon the subject of the varia- 

 tions of pupae; for few persons in examining it 

 would form the remotest idea, that all the insects 

 there represented are really and truly in the pupa 

 state. Some look so like the perfect insect, that 

 it would be almost impossible for any one only 

 slightly acquainted with insect history to believe 

 them to be in what is in reality a transition stage 

 from the larva to the perfect form. 



