PAET I 



STRUCTURE AND LIFE-HISTORY 

 OF THE LEPIDOPTERA 



CHAPTEE I 

 GENERAL CHARACTERS 



THE word Lepidoptera, which you see at the head of this page, is 

 the name of the order of insects to which this volume is to be 

 devoted. It is formed from two Greek words, one (lepis) signify- 

 ing a scale, and the other (pterori) denoting a wing ; and was 

 applied by the great naturalist Linnaeus to the scaly-winged insects 

 popularly known as Butterflies 

 and Moths. 



Every one of my readers 

 has undoubtedly handled some 

 of the interesting creatures of 

 this group having been led 

 to do so either by the extreme 

 beauty of their clothing, or, 

 perhaps, from a murderous ^ L _ gcALES FROM THE WlNGS OF 

 intent in order to protect his BUTTERFLIES. 



own garments from the ravages 



of a supposed marauder. A light mealy powder will probably have 

 been observed afterwards on the fingers that have touched the 

 victim's wings. 



This powder, although it sometimes presents a beautiful glossy 

 surface when spread over the skin, does not exhibit any definite 

 form or structure without a more minute examination. Yet these 



