26 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. I. 



larly of the wings, and the perfect coming forth of 

 the colours and spots as the sun gave vigour to it, 

 was a most interesting spectacle. At first it was 

 unable to elevate or even move its wings ; but in pro- 

 portion as the aerial or other fluid was forced by the 

 motions of its trunk into their nervures, their nu- 

 merous corrugations and folds gradually yielded to 

 the action till they had gained their greatest extent, 

 and the film between all the nervures became tense. 

 The ocelli, and spots and bars, which appeared at 

 first as but germes and rudiments of what they were 

 to be, grew with the growing wing, and shone forth 

 upon its complete expansion in full magnitude and 

 beauty." 



Other changes also take place. The two fila- 

 ments of the proboscis, which were stretched at 

 full length along the breast, are now curled into a 

 beautiful spiral tube under the head, and the anten- 

 nae, which were laid by the side of the legs beneath 

 the body, are now stretched into the air, from the 

 crown of the head upon which they are affixed ; it 

 requires, however, some little stretch of fancy to 

 regard these latter organs in the light in which they 

 were viewed by our poet Spenser : 



" Two deadly weavons first he bore, 

 Strongly outlanced towards either side, 

 Like two sharp spears, his enemies to gore ; 

 Like as a warlike brigandine, applide 

 j To fight, lays forth her threatml pikes afore, 



The engines which in them sad death do hide ; 

 So did this fly outstretch his fearful horns, 

 Yet so as him their terror more adorns." 



SPENSER'S MUIOPOTMOS. 



These appendages, which have generally been term- 

 ed antennas, horns, or feelers, are found in all in- 

 sects, being of an endless variety of forms, and 

 have been regarded by some naturalists as instru- 

 ments of touch, by others as organs of smelling, 

 while by others they have been considered as 

 those of the sense of hearing. 



