INSECTS. 1 .35 



They have been divided, according to the times of their 

 appearance, into three groups. Those that fly during the day 

 (JDmma), or Butterflies; those that appear in the twilight 

 (Crepuscularia), or Hawk-moths; and those that come forth 

 at night (Nocturna\ or Moths ; and though this arrangement 

 is not very precise, it will be sufficiently so for our present 

 purpose. 



Many of the most splendid British Butterflies are not found 

 in Ireland; and several species as, for example, the Pea- 

 cock Butterfly (Fig- 1 16) are taken in the South of Ireland, 

 but are quite unknown in the North. Hence, as certain kinds 

 have but a limited range, each change of place brings fresh 

 objects of interest before the eye of the naturalist; and as the 

 appearance of different species is periodical, a similar gratifi- 

 cation is connected with each change of season. 



Sometimes lepidopterous insects, of species rare or unknown 

 in a certain locality, appear there in considerable numbers for 

 a few days and then vanish not to be seen again for years. 

 Why they do so, is a question which, in the present state of 

 our knowledge, we are quite unable to answer. 



But apart altogether from the consideration of such pheno- 

 mena, the person who studies the habits of this tribe of beings 

 will, in all seasons, and in the most limited locality, find full 

 scope for his mental activity. What can be a more common 

 occurrence than the escape of the Nettle Butterfly from the 

 chrysalis- case. Yet, let any one mark the progress of the 

 phenomena from the time the insect bursts its prison-house 

 until the miniature wings have expanded to their full extent 

 and are ready for flight, and he will admit the truth which 

 Ray long since inculcated. " There is a greater depth of art 

 and skill in the structure of the meanest insect than thou art 

 able for to fathom or comprehend."* 



The Lcpidoptera of the second great division those which 



* Wisdom of God in Creation, published 1690. The author, John 

 Ray, F. R. S. born in Essex, 1627, was the son of parents of humble 

 rank. He was the founder of true principles of classification, both in 

 ]Jtany and Zoology, and was not more respected for his scientific 

 attainments than for his benevolence and his high moral and religious 

 worth. An association for the publishing of valuable natural history 

 works, has recently been established in these kingdoms, and has called 

 itself " the Ray Society," in honour of this truly illustrious man. It 

 consists of nearly a thousand members; to some of its publications wo 

 have more than once referred. 



TAUT i. G 2 



