PAINTED WINGS. 385 



lation attached to each. This system has been 

 extended by modern entomologists, who have sub- 

 divided the 2d, 5th, and 7th orders into additional 

 ones. 



In the opposite cut the insects represented illus- 

 trate each of the Linnean orders. They are 

 1. a Beetle ; 2. an Aphis ; 3. a Butterfly ; 4. a Bee ; 

 5. a Dragon-fly; 6. a House-fly; and, 7. a Spider. 



As these organs exhibit to us in the most 

 conspicuous manner the exquisite beauties where- 

 with it has pleased God, the Almighty Creator, 

 to adorn the insect world, we may be allowed to 

 make some reference to the colours of the wings, 

 before proceeding to speak of those organs by 

 which the insect moves on earth. Some, of the 

 beetle tribe, are like tiny masses of burnished 

 metal gleaming with colours of the most exquisite 

 description. A vast number of locusts are re- 

 markable for the splendour of their wings. Many 

 dragon-flies are adorned with wings vying with 

 those of the butterfly in loveliness. The wings of 

 many flies are exquisitely painted with the most 

 brilliant metallic hues, green and gold ; and even 

 those of a house-fly are often very beautiful by 

 their having the property of iridescence, or reflect- 

 c c 



