INSECTS : WIXGS AND THEIK APPE^^)AGES. 



91 



FRINGED SCALE OF 

 riEKIS. 



that the fringe is arranged. The surface does not ap- 

 pear to be elevated in ribs, but smooth ; while the whole 

 interior, except a crescent around the 

 foot- stalk, is tilled with pigment-grains, 

 imparting a mottled appearance. It is 

 remarkable that all the scales of this form 

 liave the foot-stalk turned in under the 

 expanse. The example which we are 

 considering is from the -vvliite portion of 

 the wing of Pieris Glaucijppe^ a fine but- 

 terfly from China ; but a similar struc- 

 ture is found in our own Garden Whites, 

 and Meadow Browns, {Pieridoe and 

 Satyridce). 



Scales taken from tlie brilliant 

 changeable blue-green patch in the hind- 

 wing of Papilio Paris^ a fine Indian 

 butterfly, have an interesting appearance, Tlicy are 

 simply pear-shaped in outline, with few longitudinal 

 ribs set far apart, and numerous strongly-marked cor- 

 ruofations running: across between them. Tliat these 

 are really elevations of the surface, is well seen in some 

 scales, even w^ith transmitted light, and a high power ; 

 for the slopes of the wrinkles that face the light display 

 the lustrous emerald reflection proper to the wing, 

 while the transmitted colour of the whole scale is a rich 

 transparent red. 



The dimensions of the scales do not bear any 

 certain proportion to the size of the insect which is 

 clothed with them ; those from the broad wings of 

 the noble Saturnia Atlas, for example, eiglit or nine 

 inches in expanse, being exceeded in size by some 

 from those of our little native Muslin Moth, an inch wide. 



