T H E C A T E R P I L L A R. 299 



moveable at their bafe ; and having a great number of joints, to turn 

 them in every dire6lion. Thofe of butterflies are placed at the top of 

 the head, pretty near the external edge of each eye. 



The trunk, few infects of the butterfly kind are without. This is 

 placed exaftly between the eyes ; and, when not employed in feeking 

 nourifhment, is rolled up, like a curl. A butterfly, when feeding, fet- 

 tles on fome flower ; the trunk is then uncurled, thruft: out, and is em- 

 ployed in fearching the flower to its very bottom, be it ever fo deep. 

 This trunk confifts of two equal hollow tubes, nicely joined to each other, 

 like the pipes of an organ. 



But the greateft number fly by night; thefe are Moths. Butterflies 

 fly by day, moths by night. They are difliinguillied by their antenrtieov 

 feelers: thofe of the butterfly being clubbed, or knobbed at the end; 

 thofe of the moth pointed. 



The general rule among infeds is, that the female is larger than the 

 male : the male fmaller and flcnderer ; the female more thick and oval. 

 If they be difturbed while united, the female flies off with the male on 

 her back, who feems entirely pafllve. The females of many moths and 

 butterflies feem to have affumed their form m.erely to fecundate their eggs, 

 and lay them. After a junction with the male of about half an hour, they 

 depofite their eggs, and die : they are impregnated by the male atone 

 aperture, and lay their eggs by another. Their eggs are difpofed in the 

 body like a bed of chaplets ; when excluded, are whitifh : fome oval, 

 fome round, fome flatted. The fliell of the egg, though folid, is thin 

 and tranfparent j each egg contains but one caterpillar. The butterfly is 

 careful to place her brood only on plants that afford good nourifliment to 

 its pofl:erity ; not the plant moft: grateful to itlelf in its winged fl:ate, but 

 fuch as it has fed on, in its reptile form. Thefe eggs are attached to the 

 leaves of the favourite plant, by a fort of glue j fometimes round the ten- 

 der flioots of plants, in the form of a bracelet, or a ring, two hundred in 

 each. Some fecure their eggs, by covering them with hair, plucked 

 from their own bodies, for warmth, and concealment. 



All female moths lay their eggs fliortly after they leave the chryfalis ; 

 but many butterflies flutter the whole fummer without laying, till to- 

 wards winter : fome continue the winter in hollows of trees, nor provide 

 for pofterity till the beginning of April, when they leave their retreats, de- 

 pofite their eggs and die. 



The caterpillar has of all animals the greatefl; number of enemies ; 

 and exifts by its furprifing fecundity. Some animals devour them by 



Part VI. No. 31. 3E hundreds^ 



