350 MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



The distance to which some males will fly is astonish- 

 ing. That of one of the silk-worm moths (Attacus 

 Paphia) is stated to travel sometimes more than a hun- 

 dred miles in this way a . Our most beautiful butterfly, 

 the purple emperor ^Apatura Iris), when he makes his 

 first appearance fixes his throne on the summit of some 

 lofty oak, from whence in sunny days, unattended by 

 his empress, who does not fly, he takes his excursions. 

 Launching into the air from one of the highest twigs, 

 he mounts often to so great a height as to become in- 

 visible. When the sun is at the meridian his loftiest 

 flights take place ; and about four in the afternoon he 

 resumes his station of repose 5 . The large bodies of 

 hawk-moths (Sphinx, F.) are carried by wings remark- 

 ably strong both as to nervures and texture, and their 

 flight is proportionably rapid and direct. That of but- 

 terflies is by dipping and rising alternately, so as to 

 form a zigzag line with vertical angles, which the ani- 

 mal often describes with a skipping motion, so that each 

 zigzag consists of smaller ones. This doubtless renders 

 it more difficult for the birds to take them as they fly ; 

 and thus the male, when paired, often flits away with 

 the female. 



Amongst the Neuropterous tribes the most conspi- 

 cuous insects are the dragon-flies (Libellulina) t which 

 their metamorphosis, habits, mode of life, and charac- 

 ters considered form a distinct natural order of them- 

 selves. Their four wings, which are nearly equal in 

 size, are a complete and beautiful piece of net- work, re- 

 sembling the finest lace, the meshes of which are usually 



a Linn. Trans, vii. 40. 



b Ha worth I,epidopt. Brit. i. 19. 



