INSECTS 1431 



thin stratum of the finest dust, which displays the 

 colored metallic reflection seen on the insect By 

 touching one with a plate of glass, instead of your 

 finger, you will get the same dust to adhere to this 

 transparent medium, by applying which to the mi- 

 croscope you may at once discern the marvelous 

 nature of the raiment with which the little creature 

 is bedecked. 



The dust is now seen to be composed of myriads 

 of thin scales, mostly regular and symmetrical in 

 their forms, though varying exceedingly among 

 themselves in this respect. Some are heart-shaped, 

 some shovel-shaped, some round, oval, elliptical, 

 half round, half elliptical, long and narrow, some- 

 times irregular and unequal, and of various other 

 indescribable outlines. 



The beautiful and extensive order called Lepidop- 

 tera or scale-winged, par excellence, including the 

 gay tribes of butterflies and moths, presents us with 

 many exceedingly interesting varieties in these singu- 

 lar coverings. 



Here are specimens from the pretty little white 

 five-plume moth (Pterophorus), so common in 

 meadows in summer. The general shape of the 

 scales from the body and wings is that of a willow- 

 leaf, some singly pointed, but more cut at the tip 

 into two, three, or four notches. Those from the 

 legs are longer and slenderer in proportion; and 

 among the others from the wings there are some 

 which take the form of hairs, which send forth one 

 or more branches from one side, that form a very 

 acute angle with the main stem. The scales proper 



