THE OCELLATED SPHINX. 15 



of the Sphinx, when satiated with the food allotted 

 to it by nature, retires to a very considerable 

 depth beneath the surface of the ground, where it 

 divests itself of all appearance of its former state, and 

 continues buried for several months ; then works its 

 way to the surface, bursts from the confinement of 

 its tomb, and commences a being of powers so 

 comparatively exalted, and of beauty so superior, as 

 to be one of the most elegant of the whole insect 

 tribe, disporting, in its splendid attire, through the 

 atmosphere. 



Even the animated illustration of the resurrection, 

 taken from the vegetable world, so justly admired, 

 must yield, in the force of its similitude, to that drawn 

 from insect life, since Nature exhibits few phenomena 

 that can equal so wonderful a transformation. 



This extraordinary metamorphosis is thus described 

 by an anonymous poet: 



The helpless crawling caterpillar trace, 

 From the first period of his reptile race : 

 Clothed in dishonour on the leafy spray, 

 Unseen, he wears his silent hours away ; 

 Till satiate grown of all that life supplies, 

 Self-taught, the voluntary martyr dies. 

 Deep under earth his darkling course he bends, 

 And to the tomb a willing guest descends ; 

 There, long secluded in his lonely cell, 

 Forgets the sun, and bids the world farewell. 

 O'er the wide waste the wintry tempests reign, 

 And driving snows usurp the frozen plain : 

 In vain the tempest beats, the whirlwind blows, 

 ffo storms can violate his grave's repose ; 



