INSECTS. 213 



The butterflies and moths possess four wings, 

 which are often covered with scales of various 

 and beautiful colours. 



The mouths of butterflies, instead of being 

 adapted for biting, like beetles, are adapted to 

 sucking. In consequence, the upper lip and 

 jaws are small, while the lower jaws are formed 

 into a long tube proboscis, so that with it they 

 can reach the nectar, that may be situated at 

 some distance from the top of the flower, on 

 which they alight. 



When this long tube or proboscis is not in use 

 it is coiled up like a watch spring, and concealed 

 beneath the head. 



The females of some insects possess a long 

 ovipositor, attached to the abdomen. They use 

 this ovipositor as a borer and for laying their eggs. 



In some insects, however bees, wasps, hornets 

 the ovipositor is developed into a sting. 



The butterflies and most moths pass through 

 the fourfold stage. Egg ; larvae or caterpillar ; 

 pupa or chrysalis ; imago or perfect insect, 

 namely, butterfly or moth. 



Most caterpillars are naked ; a few are hairy. 



Many of the butterflies, as you have ob- 

 served, are very beautiful, and they do little 

 or no harm themselves : but their larvae, or 

 caterpillar forms, are very destructive to vegeta- 

 tion. 



