312 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



ducting him, it appeared expedient to notice the 

 mistake taught in these pleasing lines, only to 

 avoid the error of its being supposed that they 

 give us an accurate idea of the true nature of the 

 change from pupa to imago. 



The term Imago is a Latin word, and, like those 

 of larva and pupa, was given to insects in this 

 condition by the naturalist Linnasus. It signifies 

 properly an image, copy, or representation of any 

 object. In applying it to insects in their last 

 stage, LinnaBus intended that we should under- 

 stand by it, that the insect had now reached its 

 stage of perfection, and had become in all respects 

 exactly like, that is, the image of, its parent. And 

 though a better term might probably be found, 

 yet as no person is likely to fall into any serious 

 mistake merely because we call an insect in its 

 last state an imago, it is as well to retain it; 

 better indeed, than, by inventing another, to create 

 nothing but confusion and disorder in the minds 

 of young entomologists. In this chapter, there- 

 fore, the last chapter of the Life of an Insect, the 

 word imago may be considered as synonymous, or 

 having the same meaning, with that of " perfect 

 insect;" it is an insect's last stage of existence. 



