ORDER IV. MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 197 



Butterflies originate from eggs, in the same manner as 

 moths, and like them go through the metamorphosis, first 

 into caterpillars, then into cocoons, and lastly into the per 

 fect butterfly. They are, however, distinguished from the 

 moths by their short and knobbed antennae, very short and 

 imperfect fore feet, and by their flying about only in the 

 daytime. They have four wings, ornamented with the same 

 never-ending variety of colors as their nocturnal relations, 

 while gold and silver, with azure and purple velvet, is 

 lavished upon them with profusion. The illustrious Lin 

 naeus, who was a scholar of very extensive and varied at 

 tainments, was almost a worshiper of these beautiful in 

 sects, and bestowed upon them the names of gods and god 

 desses, of heroes and kings, and many very romantic names 

 borrowed from ancient history and mythology. So we find 

 among the butterflies a Priamus, Hector, Ulysses, Ajax, Apol 

 lo, Iris, lo, Protesilaus, Ac/titles, Nestor, Mcnelaus, Paris, An- 

 chyses, Pohjdamas, Helena, Remus, SEneas, Danaus, Heliconia, 

 Atalanta, Argus, etc. 



These names were all given for some fancied resem 

 blance in look or character, and although at first sight they 

 may appear irrelevant and pedantic, yet they have done 

 much to enrich entomology as a science, by ingrafting 

 upon it, through the power of association, so much other 

 and interesting knowledge. We will relate one anecdote 

 in illustration of the manner in which this fanciful and 

 oftentimes inappropriate technology has really enriched the 

 science, and added to its general usefulness as a study. 



While traveling in liussian Poland thirty-six years ago, 

 we visited the highly-accomplished Countess Ragowska, at 

 her country residence, when she exhibited her fine, scientific 

 ally-arranged collection of butterflies and other insects, and 

 told us that she had personally instructed her children in 

 botany, history, and geography by means of her entomolog 

 ical cabinet. To convince us of the truth of her assertion, 



