80 



EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE. 



marked with longitudinal lines, very minute and close, but 

 they mostly bear a central band, and sometimes a marginal 

 one on each side, of spots set in sinuous lines like the 

 bands on a mackerel's back ; these are probably composed 

 of pigment-granules. 



These from the pretty Six-spot Burnet Hawk-moth, are 

 nearly opaque, especially those from the red parts of the 

 wings, which have a rich ruddy glow by transmitted light. 

 They are narrow in shape, tapering gradually forward from 

 the foot-stalk, and terminate mostly in two blunt points. 

 The ribs are coarse for the size of the scales, and the 

 depressed spaces are marked with irregular pigment-grains. 



The hairs with which the bodies of Moths are invested 

 are essentially of the same character as the scales which 

 clothe their wings. Here are examples from the glowing 

 sides of the abdomen of that -richly- coloured insect, the 



You see they are simple scales, drawn 

 out to an inordinate length and great 

 tenuity; each has its quill-like foot- 

 stalk, and we may trace on some of 

 them the ribs and transverse dotting, 

 while here we see all intermediate 

 stages between the slenderest hair and 

 the broadly ovate, bluntly- pointed, 

 scales from the wings. 



You are familiar of course with the 

 brilliant little Blue Butterfly (Polyom- 

 matus Alexis}, which dances and glit- 

 ters in the sunshine on waste places in 

 June. Among the scales of ordinary 

 form which clothe the lovely little 

 wings will occur one here and there of 

 a different shape from the rest. Here 

 you may see one ; it is much smaller 

 than the average ; the foot- stalk is very long, and the shape 



BATTLEDORE SCALE OF 

 POLYOMMATU8 ALEXIS. 



