TR A NSFORMA TION OF INSECTS. 5 3 



brood. The white-thorn butterfly and the goi den-tail moth lay their 

 eggs on the leaves of fruit-trees or other leafy trees, and the latter 

 covers them over with a gold-coloured covering of silk. The common 

 lackey-moth (Bombyxneustria) fastens them in the form of continuous 

 rings round the stems of fruit-trees ; and the gipsy-moth (Bombyx 

 dispar) fastens them in a broad patch on the stems of trees or on 

 palings, and covers them with a thick coating of hair. The winter- 

 moth (Geometra brumata) lays them singly on the buds of the leaves 

 and nowers; the printer-beetle (Bostrichus typographus) introduces 

 them between the bark and the albumen, &c. 



Most insects are developed from the eggs in the shape of worms, 

 which are called larvae. The larvae of butterflies, which are always 

 provided with feet, are called caterpillars ; those of beetles and other 

 insects, grubs ; and, when they have no feet, maggots. In this state, 

 as their bodies increase, the insects often cast their skin, and not un- 

 frequently change their colour. Many winged insects (e.g., cimices, 

 cicadas, grasshoppers, and dragon- flies), in their larva state, very much 

 resemble the perfect insect ; they only want the wings, which are not 

 developed till after the last change of the skin. The larva state is the 

 period of feeding, and at this period insects are usually the destructive 

 enemies of other productions of nature, and objects of persecution to 

 farmers, -gardeners, and foresters. 



The nympha or pupa state succeeds that of larva. In this state 

 insects for the most part take no nourishment (with the exception of 

 the Orthopterous, Hemipterous, and part of the Neuropterous species, 

 which vary but little in form from the larva), and repose in a death- 

 like slumber. The body is covered with a skin more or less trans- 

 parent, through which the limbs of the perfect insect are more or less 

 apparent. To be safe from their enemies, or from the weather, the 

 larvae of many insects, particularly moths, prepare for themselves a 

 covering of a silky or cottony texture ; many burrow in the soil, or 

 form themselves a nest of moss, leaves, grass, haulm, or foliage ; many 

 even go deep into the earth, or bury themselves in decayed wood, or 

 conceal themselves under the bark of trees, &c. 



After a certain period, which is fixed in every species of insects, and 

 which can either be hastened or retarded according to circumstances, 

 the perfect insect appears from the pupa. It is usually furnished in 

 tliis state with other organs for the performance of its appointed func- 

 tions. It is incumbent on the perfect insect to propagate its species, 

 therefore the organs for this purpose are only perfected at this period 

 of their lives. The male insect seeks the female, and the female the 

 most suitable place for laying her eggs ; hence most insects are fur- 

 nished with wings. Food is now a secondary consideration, conse- 

 quently, in many, the feeding organs are now less perfectly developed 

 than in the larva state, or very much modified and suited for finer 

 food, as for example in butterflies, which, instead of the leaves of 

 plants, only consume the honey of their flowers. 



