IMMENSE NUMBER OF EYES. 349 



In the Dragon-fly 12,544 



Butterfly ........ 17,355 



Mordella ....... 25,088 



According to the calculations of another author 

 there cannot be fewer than 34,650 in the com- 

 pound eye of a butterfly. Amazing thought ! each 

 of this immense host is considered to be a separate 

 eye, receives separate impressions of light, and has 

 a separate structure and organization, both perfect 

 in their kind. 



It is not difficult to remove the compound eye 

 of an insect ; and in so doing it will be found that 

 each lens is as clear as crystal. The ingenious 

 Reaumur actually succeeded in removing one 

 and adjusting it to a lens; and he found that 

 he could see through the insect's eye very dis- 

 tinctly, only he says the surrounding objects 

 appeared to be greatly multiplied. There is a 

 common optical toy which is ground into a number 

 of facets which communicates this appearance to 

 objects when seen through it, and thus furnishes 

 us with a good illustration of the endless confusion 

 of images which would have perplexed the insect, 

 had not the various beautiful contrivances of which 

 we have spoken been adjusted to prevent it. 



