72 ON THE FOOD OF MOTHS. 



almost all kinds of plants. Reaumur, however, asserts, 

 that if a caterpillar has fed for some time on any 

 particular plant, although not the one appropriated to 

 it by nature, it will rather die than feed upon another 

 kind, although this would have been quite agreeable 

 to their palate prior to eating that other plant acci- 

 dentally.* We must also keep in view, that insects 

 feed on different kinds of food in their various stages 

 of existence, from the larva to the imago condition. 

 In the first state, they feed either on the leaves or 

 other parts of plants, while the perfect insect feeds 

 almost exclusively on the nectar of flowers. 



Some of the Phalaena feed during the day, while 

 others feed only at night, or in the evening. The 

 NycteroUus, mentioned by Mr M'Leay, as inhabiting 

 New Holland, lay up their store of provisions during 

 the night, and feed on it through the day. 



The larvae of papilionaceous insects far exceed all 

 others in the quantity of food they consume. They 

 are furnished with jaws, which are admirably adapted 

 for gnawing leaves, and act somewhat in the manner 

 of shears. 



Nature has endowed many of the animals of this 

 order with wonderful powers for providing themselves 

 with habitations, and these frequently constructed in 

 a manner admirably calculated for the comfort of the 

 resident. 



The Tinea, W'dketta, ClerJcella, and others, are 

 termed the subcutaneous larvae, from their feeding 



* REAUMUR, ii. 324. 

 1 



