120 



VIEWS OF THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD. 



Fig 194 



HEMEROBIUS PERLA.* In cut 194 is delineated the wing of the Heme- 



robius Perla, both magnified and of it<. 

 natural size. This insect receives its 

 appellation from the short duration of iis 

 life, which lasts but two or three days. 

 Its wing is extremely elegant and deli- 

 cate, and is formed of a membrane as 

 thin as the finest gauze ; while slender 

 ribs, fringed with hairs of a greenish 

 tinge, are seen strengthening the wing 

 and running both lengthwise and oblique- 

 ly to the margin. From these ribs late- 

 ral branches proceed, in directions for 

 the most part, parallel to each other ; and 

 from the latter a third series arises ; the 

 whole forming a strong and compact net- 

 work bound firmly together. In addition 

 to the beauty and regular structure of its 

 wings, this insect is otherwise adorned, its 

 body being tinged with a delicate green, 

 while its two eyes glitter like beads of 

 polished gold. A striking instance is 

 here afforded of the care bestowed by 

 our Heavenly Father upon one of the 

 smallest and least enduring of his works ; 

 for the Hemerobius in the course of a 

 few hours comes into being, matures 

 and dies ; completing, in this short space 

 of time, the whole round of its existence, 

 and yet its Creator has not only bestowed 

 upon it those organs and powers which 

 are necessary for the discharge of the va- 

 rious functions of its life, but has not 

 deemed it beneath him to lavish upon it 

 the bright gifts of beauty. 



FEATHERS OF MOTHS AND BUTTER- 

 FLIES. A certain order of insects, which 

 includes Moths and Butterflies, have re- 

 ceived the name of Lepidopteraf from 

 the peculiar construction of their wings. 

 These members are covered with a fine 



* From the Greek hemera, a day, and bios, life. 

 f From the Greek lepis, a scale, and ptera, wings. 



