If we take the butterflies, what wonderful shapes and colours, and what marvellous arrangement 

 of the latter ! some of them are gorgeously apparelled in silky plumes ; they appear to have 

 been created to keep vegetation in check, but only as caterpillars, as some of the most beautiful of 

 the perfect insects seem to derive what nourishment they require from animal substances, and 

 those of a coarse description. For any knowledge of the habits of the conspicuous members of this 

 group, we must transport our ideas of them in their natural condition to the tropics, yet 

 irrespective of our not being able to see them alive, many of them are most lovely to look at as 

 sent to this country, almost every colour being apparent, and of the most brilliant shades, and 

 these mingled as no mortal mind could suggest, no combination existing that the most fastidious 

 person could find fault with. 



When we come to the moths and consider their importance what could we do without 

 their silk ? Without it one half of our most exquisite fabrics could not be produced ! Who living 

 would like to be without these luxuries? Though the colours of the perfect insects cannot, as a rule, 

 vie with those of the butterflies, the insects themselves are quite as interesting. They are also 

 principally keepers in check of soft vegetation, as caterpillars; yet, in some cases, these attack 

 the solid wood, and some of the caterpillars of the insignificant kinds feed on animal matter, 

 as the common clothes moth, which no doubt has its use if we knew it: but manv of us would 



J 



rather be rid of it altogether, than put up with the annoyance it often is to us. The perfect 



insects, like the butterflies, apparently derive what nourishment they require by sucking juices 

 or moisture only. 



Probably in all cases great successes followed very trifling beginnings. I would like to 



