138 LEGS. 



the dragon-fly and the house-fly are of fine yet 

 strong texture. Some of the beetles have wings 

 of the most surprising delicacy, which are folded 

 in a wonderful manner under strong cases, or ely- 

 tra, when they are at rest. The finest gauze that 

 can possibly be made is coarse in comparison with 

 these fine and transparent membranes, and no hand 

 but the hand of God could make such curious and 

 beautiful structures. The wings of butterflies are 

 covered with minute scales of the most brilliant 

 colours, which resemble small feathers. Many of 

 these are singularly elegant creatures, and have 

 been well called "flying flowers." One of our 

 poets, in speaking of the yellow spring butterfly, 

 has very aptly and beautifully said : 



The butterfly 



That o'er the primrose restlessly, 

 Itself a flying primrose, hovers. 



The wings of insects are moved by muscles, like 

 those of birds. It is astonishing how fast they can 

 fly. A swarm of common flies will accompany a 

 horse at full gallop, gambolling round its head, and 

 occasionally settling upon it, all apparently without 

 effort. 



The number of legs possessed by insects, is 

 another of their peculiarities. None of them have 

 less than six, and others have twelve, twenty-four, 

 thirty, forty, fifty, one hundred, and even more. 

 The feet of the house-fly are very curious. This 

 active creature walks with the greatest steadiness 



