784 



A HISTORY OF 



part of natural history. In the second order 

 of changes, men.ioned before, we saw the 

 grs*. topper and ihe earwig, when excluded 

 from the egg, assume a form very like tint 

 wiiicn they were after to preserve ; and seem- 

 ed arrived at a state of perfection, in all re- 

 spects, except in not having wings ; which 

 did not bud forth until they were come to ma- 

 turity. But the insects of this third order, 

 that we are now about to describe, go through 

 a much greater variety of tra sformaiions ; 

 for when they are excluded from the egg, they 

 assume the form of a small caterpillar, which 

 feeds and grows larger every day, often chang- 

 ing its skin, but still preserving its form. 

 When the animal has come to a certain mag- 

 nitude in this state, it discontinues eating, 



makes itself a covering or husk, in which it 

 remains wrapped up, seemingly without life 

 or motion ; and after having for some time 

 continued in tiiis state, it once more bursts its 

 confinement, and conies forth a beautiful but- 

 terfly. Thus we see this animal put on no 

 less than three different appearances, from the 

 time it is first excluded from (he egg. It ap- 

 pears a crawling caterpillar; then an insen- 

 sible aurelia, as it is called, without life or 

 motion ; and, lastly, a butterfly, variously 

 painted, according to its different kind. 

 Having thus distinguished this class of insects 

 from all others, we will first survey their his- 

 tory in general ; and then enter particularly 

 into the manners and nature of a few ot them, 

 which most deserve our curiosity and attention. 



CHAPTER CLXXXV. 



OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CATERPILLAR INTO ITS CORRESPOND* 



ING BUTTERFLY OR MOTH. 



WHEN winter has disrobed the trees of 

 their leaves, nature then seems to have lost 

 her insects. There are thousands of different 

 kinds, with and without wings, which, though 

 swarming at other seasons, then entirely dis- 

 appear. Our fields are re-peopled, when the 

 leaves begin to bud, by the genial influence of 

 spring ; and caterpillars of various sorts are 

 seen feeding upon the promise of the year, 

 even before the leaves are completely unfolded. 

 Those caterpillars, which ue then see, may 

 serve to give us a view of the general means 

 which nature employs to preserve such a num- 

 ber of insects during that season, when they 

 can no longer find subsistence. It is known, 

 by united experience, that all these animals 

 are hatched from the eggs of butterflies : and 

 those who observe them more closely, will find 

 the fly very careful in depositing its eggs in 

 those places where they are likely to be hatch- 

 ed with the greatest safety and success. 

 During winter, therefore, the greatest number 

 of caterpillars are in an egg state ; and in this 

 lifeless situation brave all the rigours and the 

 humidity of the climate ; and though often ex 

 posed to all its changes, still preserve the la- 



tent principles of life, which is more fully ex- 

 erted at the approach of spring. Thai same 

 power that pushes forth the budding leaf and 

 the opening flower, impels the insect into ani- 

 mation ; and nature at once seems to furnish 

 the guest and the banquet. When the insect 

 has found force to break its shell, it always 

 finds its favourite aliment provided in abun- 

 dance before it. 



But all caterpillars are not sent r.ff from the 

 egg in the beginning of spring ; for many of 

 them have subsisted during the winter in thoir 

 aurelia state ; in which, as we have briefly ob- 

 served above, the animal is seemingly deprived 

 of life and motion. In this state of insensibility, 

 many of these insects eontimie during the 

 rigours of winter ; ome enclosed in a kind of 

 shell, which they have spun for themselves at 

 the end of autumn ; some concealed under the 

 bark of trees ; others in the chinks of old 

 wells; and many buried underground. From 

 all these, a variety of butterflies are seen to 

 issue in the beginning of spring ; and adorn 

 the earliest part of the year with their painted 

 flutterings. 



Some caterpillars do not make any change 



