68 HISTORY OF 



are enclosed within a cone find their exit more 

 difficult, as they have still another prison to break 

 through : this, however, they perform in a short 

 timej for the butterfly, freed from its aurelia 

 skin, butts with its head violently against the 

 walls of its artificial prison ; and probably with its 

 eyes, that are rough and like a file, it rubs the in- 

 ternal surface away, till it is at last seen bursting 

 its way into open light, and, in less than a quar- 

 ter of an hour, the animal acquires its full perfec- 

 tion. 



Thus, to use the words of Swammerdam, we see 

 a little insignificant creature distinguished, in its 

 last birth, with qualifications and ornaments, which 

 man, during his stay upon earth, can never even 

 hope to acquire. The butterfly, to enjoy life, 

 needs no other food but the dews of heaven, and 

 the honied juices which are distilled from every 

 flower. The pageantry of princes cannot equal 

 the ornaments with which it is invested, nor the 

 rich colouring that embellishes its wings. The 

 skies are the butterfly's proper habitation, and 

 the air its element; whilst man comes into the 

 world naked, and often roves about without habi- 

 tation or shelter j exposed, on one hand, to the 

 heat of the sun, and on the other, to the damps 

 and exhalations of the earth, both alike enemies 

 of his happiness and existence. A strong proof 

 that, while this little animal is raised to its greatest 

 height, we are as yet, in this world, only candi- 

 dates for perfection ! 



