134 THE UNIVERSE. 



the perfect insect only reaches the term of life after having 

 undergone a total metamorphosis. Its last form is only a 

 brilliant wedding garment, and it almost always expires as 

 soon as ever the torches of Hymen are extinguished. Many 

 an insect, the Ephemera for example, passes several years in 

 its development beneath the mud and water, an unknown 

 and imperfect larva ; then it acquires wings, and only exists 

 an hour with all the prerogatives of life ! 



In species which display radical metamorphoses, the two 



. Head and Proboscis of different Butterflies. 



modes of existence having no relation, the organism natu- 

 rally undergoes an absolute transformation. 



The butterfly, which is henceforth to nourish itself with 

 nectar, throws off its voracious caterpillar's head and power- 

 ful mandibles, now become useless ; an extended proboscis 

 to suck the juice of flowers replaces them. The vigorous 

 feet of the larva the hooks of which cling so strongly to 

 the leaves would injure the flowers which the butterfly is 

 henceforth to haunt ; he releases himself from them, and ex- 

 changes them for long and delicate members, which scarcely 

 rest upon the velvet of the petals. 



Up to a certain point the genius of the anatomist pene- 



