34 METAMORPHOSES. 



here, and still retained in many parts of the Continent, Linne* has called it 

 the pupa state, and an insect when under this form a pupa terms which 

 will be here adopted in the same sense. In this state most insects eat no 

 food; are incapable of locomotion ; and, if opened, seem tilled with a 

 watery fluid, in which no distinct organs can be traced. Externally, how- 

 ever, the shape of the pupae of different tribes varies considerably, and 

 different names have been applied to them. 



Those of the beetle and bee tribes are covered with a membranous skin, 

 enclosing in separate and distinct sheaths the external organs, as the an- 

 tennae, legs, and wings, which are consequently not tlosely applied to the 

 body, but have their form for the most part clearly distinguishable. To 

 these Aristotle originally gave the name of nymphce^, which was continued 

 by Swammerdam and other authors prior to Linne (who calls them in- 

 complete pupae), and has been adopted by many English writers on 

 insects. 



Butterflies, moths, and some of the two-winged tribe, are in their pupa 

 state also enclosed in a similar membranous envelope ; but their legs, 

 antennae, and wings, are closely folded over the breast and sides ; and the 

 whole body enclosed in a common case or covering of a more horny con- 

 sistence, which admits a much less distinct view of the organs beneath it. 

 As these pupae are often tinged of a golden colour, they were called from 

 this circumstance chrysalides by the Greeks, and aurelus by the Romans, 

 both which terms are in some measure become anglicized ; and though not 

 strictly applicable to ungilded pupae, are now often given to those of all 

 lepidopterous insects. 8 These by Linne are denominated obtected pupae. 



I have said that most insects eat no food in the pupa state. This quali- 

 fication is necessary, because in the metamorphoses of insects, as in all 

 her other operations, nature proceeds by measured steps, and a very con-, 

 siderable number (the tribe of locusts, cockroaches, bugs, spiders, &c.) 

 not only greatly resemble the perfect insect in form, but are equally 

 capable with it of eating and moving. As these insects, however, cast 

 their skins at stated periods, and undergo changes, though slight, in their 



* In explanation of the terms Lepidoptera, Lepidopterous, Coleoptera, &c., which 

 will frequently occur in the following pages before coming regularly to definitions, 

 it is necessary here to state that they have reference to the names given by entomo- 

 logists to the different orders or tribes of insects, as under : 



1. Coleoptera, consisting of Beetles. 



2. Strepsiptera, of the genera Xenos and Stylops. 



3. Dermaptera, of the Earwigs. 



4. Orthoptera, of Cockroaches, Locusts, Grasshoppers, Crickets, Spectres, 



Mantes, &c. 



5. Hemiptera, consisting of Bugs, Cicada, Water-scorpions, Water -boat-men, 

 Plant-lice, Cochineal Insects, &c. 



6. Trichoptera, consisting of the flies produced by the various species of Case- 

 worms, Phryganea, L. 



7. Lepidoptera, consisting of Butterflies, Hawkmoths, and Moths. 



8. Neuroptera, consisting of Dragon-flies, Ant-lions, Ephemerae, &c. 



9. Hymenoptera, consisting of Bees, Wasps, and other insects armed with a sting 

 or ovipositor, and its valves. 



10. Diptera, consisting of Flies, Gnats, and other two-winged insects. 



11. Aphaniptera, consisting of the Flea trilje. 



12. Aptera, of Mites 



