214 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



Grecians, into which he divides his knights (Equites) 

 are merely different sexes, as if we should rank in a 

 different family the bright-coloured male of the 

 brimstone butterfly (Goneptyrex Rhamni), from the 

 dull greenish-white female. In a pretty moth, the 

 spotted muslin (fliaphora mendica, STEPHENS), rare 

 in some parts of Britain, the one sex is white and 

 the other brownish, while both are similarly spotted 

 and of a translucent lustre. A butterfly, known in 

 every part of the island, takes its name of orange- 

 tip (Pontia Cardamines) from the male only ; for 

 the female wants the beautiful streak of orange on 

 the outer angles of the fore-wings, arid might also be 

 taken for a variety of one of our rarest insects, the 

 Bath white butterfly (P. daplicide). The male of 

 another fine butterfly (Polygommatus Argus) has the 

 upper surface of the fore-wings of a beautiful dark 

 blue, while the female has the same of a deep pur- 

 plish-brown. 



Among the dragon-flies, the large flat-bodied one 

 (Libellula depressa) one of the most common, the 

 male is of a leaden-blue, and the female yellow ; but 

 as the blue colour may be washed off, it is probable 

 that weather-beaten males may sometimes be mis- 

 taken for females*. In an allied family (Agrionidce, 

 LEACH), there appears to have arisen no little con- 

 fusion in consequence of the difference of the colour. 

 In the finest native insect of this family (Calepteryx 

 Virgo), the body of the male is of a rich, splendent, 

 silky blue ; in the female the colour is deep green, 

 and little inferior in richness. 



What is of more importance to be remarked with 

 regard to the subject before us, is that in several species 

 the males are furnished with wings, while the females 

 are generally condemned to creep on the earth. This 



* See Schelver, Entomologische, p. 224 j and Reaumur, 

 vol. vi. p. 423. 



