BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 75 



easy to conceive. It cannot be by the sight, since 

 such small objects as they are must be utterly 

 imperceptible at half the distance at which they 

 perceive each other ; it can scarcely be by the 

 sense of smelling, since the animal has no organs 

 for that purpose. Whatever be their powers of 

 perception, certain it is, that the male, after hav- 

 ing fluttered, as if carelessly, about for some time, 

 is seen to take wing, and go forward, sometimes 

 for two miles together, in a direct line to where 

 the female is perched on a flower. 



The general rule among insects is, that the 

 female is larger than the male ; and this obtains 

 particularly in the tribe I am describing. The 

 body of the male is smaller and slenderer, that of 

 the female more thick and oval. Previous to the 

 junction of these animals, they are seen sporting 

 in the air, pursuing and flying from each other, 

 and preparing, by a mock combat, for the more im- 

 portant business of their lives. If they be dis- 

 turbed while united, the female flies off with the 

 male on her back, who seems entirely passive upon 

 the occasion. 



But the females of many moths and butterflies 

 seem to have assumed their airy form for no other 

 reason but to fecundate their eggs, and lay them. 

 They are not seen fluttering about in quest of 

 food, or a mate ; all that passes during their short 

 lives, is a junction with the male of about half an 

 hour, after which they deposit their eggs, and die, 

 without taking any nourishment, or seeking any. 

 It may be observed, however, that in all the fe- 

 males of this tribe, they are impregnated by the 



