LEPIDOPTEEA. 



CHAPTER I. 

 RHOPALOCERA, OR BUTTERFLIES. 



I VERY much regret the necessity for using such words as that 

 which appears at the head of this chapter. I employ such words 

 as seldom as possible, and always explain them when compelled 

 to use them, as is the case at present. Still, in many instances, 

 scientific terms are absolutely necessary, because there are no 

 existing English words which have the same signification, and, 

 in many others, even though there may be English equivalents, 

 the scientific terms are so universally employed that it is neces- 

 sary to introduce them and explain their meaning. 



To begin with the word Lepidoptera. It is formed fi-om two 

 Greek words, the one signifying a scale, and the other a wing, 

 and is given to those insects because their wings are, for the 

 most part, covered on both sides with flat scales which overlap 

 each other just like the tiles of a house. This is the most 

 important characteristic of the order, but there are one or two 

 others which must be noticed. The mouth is formed for 

 suction. The mandibles, or jaws, which are so conspicuous in 

 the insects which we have hitherto examined, and which indeed 

 are large and powerful in the larval state, are scarcely visible, 

 being reduced to mere rudiments of jaws. The maxillae, on the 

 contrary, are very much elongated, and modified into the 

 beautiful proboscis through which the insect is able to suck 

 ^he sweet juices of flowers. The pupa is enclosed in a hard, 

 shelly case, not resembling the perfect insect, this form being 

 scientifically called ' obtected.' 



The Lepidoptera fall naturally into two great divisions or 



