248 



THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



6. LEPIDOPTERA (Scaly-winged). 



This order includes the Butterflies and Moths, they have 

 four wings, which are large and covered with minute 

 scales, which are for the most part of a heart or battle- 

 dore shape, as in fig. 27. The wings of these insects are 



VIG. 27. SCALES FROM MOTH'S WING (Magnified). 



many of them beautifully marked and tinged. There are 

 about 12,000 species, by some divided into " diurnal " (or 

 those which fly by day), " crepuscular " (or those which 

 fly in the evening), and "nocturnal" (or those flying 

 by night) . The Moths are mostly crepuscular and noc- 

 turnal, while the Butterflies are chiefly diurnal, but 

 the most usual distinction between the Moth and 

 Butterfly consists in the form of the antennae, those of 

 the Moth being feather-shaped, while those of the 

 Butterfly have a small knob at the end, or, as it is called, 

 " club-shaped." The Lepidoptera feed upon the nectar 

 of flowers, for which purpose they are furnished with a 

 long proboscis or " Haustellium," which is curled up 

 under the head, it consists of two semi-cylindrical pieces 

 which when placed side by side form a tube, up which 



