296 NATURAL HISTORY. [oil. XXII 



eyed flies (HemeroUida*), and some other families 

 of the order Neuroptera, as well as the flea, forming 

 the order Aphaniptera, all belong to this division. 

 We, however, possess specimens of Coleopterous 

 and Hymenopterous insects in the pupa state, which 

 have the legs and wings as closely applied to the 

 breast as in the true chrysalides of butterflies ; so 

 that it is from analogy alone that we are convinced 

 that the limbs must be enclosed in distinct sheaths. 



Shortly previous to the disclosure of the perfect 

 insect, the pupa in this state acquires a slight degree 

 of activity, moving its legs, while yet covered by 

 their sheaths, in order to make its way out of its 

 narrow retreat ; but there are other insects which 

 are generally regarded as undergoing an incomplete 

 metamorphosis, in which the limbs of the pupa, al- 

 though incased in distinct sheaths, are incapable of 

 being employed in locomotion; this is the case 

 with the gnatsf and some other species of dipterous 

 insects. 



The transformations of the butterflies and moths 

 (Lepidoptera) are termed obtected, from the various 

 organs of the pupa, chrysalis, or aurelia, being en- 



* In our first volume, page 187, we have detailed the history 

 and figured the larva of the Hcmerobius, which is furnished with 

 legs, jaws, and antennae, and which, having spun a globular co- 

 coon, is therein transformed into an inactive pupa, having the 

 limbs disengaged from the body, but enclosed in distinct 

 sheaths. 



t We have already (vol. i., p. 193,) figured the larva and pupa 

 of the gnat. In the former state the body is destitute of legs, 

 but in the pupa, instead of being inactive, like that of the syr- 

 phus, blowfly, &c., it is capable of moving briskly about in the 

 manner of a shrimp ; its activity being produced, not by the real 

 locomotive organs, but by repeated jerkings of the body : more- 

 over, it does not appear that it takes any food while in this 

 state, whence it must be considered that its activity is analo- 

 gous to the writhing of the chrysalides of butterflies rather than 

 to the voracious activity of the pupa of the dragon-fly, &c., 

 whose limbs are endowed with locomotive powers, while those 

 of the gnat are all enclosed in a common sheath. 



