BUTTERFLY WINGS. 21 



employed in these matchless pieces of decoration ; but 

 the possessor of a regular microscope may, by applying 

 it to some of our commonest butterflies, open for himself 

 a world of beauty, and feast his eyes on a combination 

 of refined sculpture with splendour of colouring ; now 

 melting in softest harmony, then relieved by boldest 

 contrast a spectacle, the first sight of which seldom 

 fails to call forth expressions of wonderment and warm 

 delight and, truly, little to be envied is the mind un- 

 touched by such utter beauty as here displayed. 



As an example of the method by which this ad- 

 mirable effect is produced, let us take a small portion of 

 the wing of the Peacock, a very beautiful, though an 

 abundant species, and one admirably adapted for 

 microscopic examination, and to illustrate the subject, 

 from the great variety of rich tints brought together in 

 a small space, the part selected being the eye-like spot 

 at the outer corner of each upper wing. Even to the 

 naked eye this appears as a very splendidly coloured 

 object, yet but little of its exquisite mechanism can be 

 discovered by the unassisted organ. Something more 

 is brought out by a moderately strong lens : we then 

 see the colours disposed in rows, reminding us of the 

 surface of Brussels carpet, or of certain kinds of 

 tapestry work. 



Now let us place the wing on the stage of a good 

 microscope, with the root of the wing pointing towards 

 the light (that is the best position for it) ; we shall then 

 first perceive that the whole surface is covered, or, so to 



