220 SPHINX. 



from the dormant condition of the papilionaceous 

 insects during their state of chrysalis, and their 

 resuscitation from it; but they have, in general, 

 unfortunately chosen a species the least proper 

 for the purpose; viz. the Silkworm, an animal 

 which neither undergoes its changes under the 

 surface of the earth, nor, when emerged from its 

 tomb, is it an insect of any remarkable beauty; 

 but the larva or caterpillar of the Sphinx, when 

 satiate of the food allotted to it during that state,* 

 retires to a very considerable depth beneath the 

 surface of the ground, where it divests itself of all 

 appearance of 'its former state, and continues 

 buried during several months; then rises to the 

 surface, and bursting from the confinement of its 

 tomb, commences a being of powers so com- 

 paratively exalted, and of beauty so superior as 

 not to be beheld without the highest admiration. 

 Even the animated illustration taken from the 

 vegetable world, so justly admired, as best calcu- 

 lated for general apprehension, must yield in the 

 force of its similitude to that drawn from the in- 

 sect's life, since Nature exhibits few phenomena 

 that can equal so wonderful a transformation. 



I must here request the reader's permission to 

 repeat on this subject some lines long ago intro- 

 duced into the pages of the Naturalist's Mis- 

 cellany. 



The helpless crawling caterpillar trace 

 From the first period of his reptile race. 

 Cloth'd in dishonour, on the leafy spray 

 Unseen he wears his silent hours away, 



