204 BUTTERFLY, MOTH, ETC. 



THE BUTTERFLY. 



The number of these beautiful animals is very great ; 

 and though Linnseus has reckoned up above seven hundred 

 and sixty different kinds, the catalogue is still very in- 

 complete. Every collector of butterflies can show undis- 

 cribed species ; and such as are fond of minute discovery, 

 can even produce animals that have been examimed only 

 by himself. In general, however, those of the warm 

 climates are larger and more beautiful than such as are 

 bred at home ; and we can easily admit the beauty of the 

 butterfly, since we are thus freed from the damage of the 

 caterpillar. It has been the amusement of some to 

 collect these animals from different parts of the world, or 

 to breed them from caterpillars at home. These they 

 arrange in systematic order, or dispose so as to make 

 striking and agreeable pictures ; and all must grant, that 

 this specious idleness is far preferable to that unhappy 

 state which is produced by a total want of employment. 



THE MOTH, CATERPILLAR, AND AURELIA. 



Caterpillers may be easily distinguished from worms or 

 maggots, by the number of their feet, and by their 

 producing butterflies or moths. When the sun calls up 

 vegetation, and vivifies the various eggs of insects, the 

 caterpillars are the first that are seen upon almost every 

 vegetable and tree, eating its leaves, and preparing for a 

 state of greater perfection. They have feet both before 

 and behind, which not only enable them to move forward 

 by a sort of steps made by their fore and hinder parts, but 

 also to climb up vegetables, and to stretch themselves out 

 from the boughs and stalks, and to reach their food at a 

 distance. All of this class have from eight feet, at the 

 least, to sixteen ; and this may serve to distinguish them 

 from the worm tribe, that never have so many. The 

 animal into which they are converted is always a butterfly 

 or a moth ; and these are always distinguished from other 

 flies, by having their wings covered over with a painted 

 dust, which gives them such various beauty. The wings 

 of flies are transparent, as we see in the common flesh fly, 

 ' while those of the beetle are hard, like horn ; from such 

 the iffcigs of a butterfly may be easily distinguished, and 

 words would obscure their differences. 



