INSECTS' EGGS 145 



The eggs of most butterflies and moths are 

 found upon or in the near neighbourhood of the 

 food-plant of the young larvae. And here is pre- 

 sented the marvellous instinct of the mother 



Fig. 93. Eggs of a moth often found on cabbage leaves 



insect : for she knows exactly what leaf-food her 

 children will need, although she does not eat 

 leaves and very seldom even obtains any part of 

 her food from the same plant. Butterflies and 

 moths in their perfect form have no mouth-organs 

 using the word in its scientific and not its toy- 



K 



