80 SUPPLEMENT ON 



We see from many passages of Aristotle, that he knew that 

 several insects, and he particularly names butterflies and bees, 

 come from caterpillars, or worms. But these transforma- 

 tions have only been thoroughly known since the researches 

 of Swammerdam, of Redi, and of Goedaert, and the repro- 

 duction of insects pi'operly explained. 



Besides the notable mutations in form which insects un- 

 dergo, in the three states which follow their departure from 

 the eggs, they often change their skin, or epidermis, and this 

 epidermis is often altogether of another appearance than that 

 which succeeds it, which imparts quite a different aspect to 

 the insect. This happens to the caterpillar of the silkworm. 

 When it issues from the egg this caterpillar is hairy ; in its 

 subsequent moultings the body is quite smooth, but its tint 

 varies considerably. It is the same with a great number of 

 other larvae. 



Fabricius, in his Entomological Philosophy, has devoted 

 an entire section to the modifications of the metamorphosis in 

 insects. Since his time, the science has made great progress, 

 and is most deeply indebted to the distinguished author of 

 that portion of the " Regne Animal,'' on which we are now 

 enlarging, M. Latreille. 



The larva, or caterpillar state, may be considered as the 

 infancy of the insect. The larvae, whose forms are only pro- 

 visional, and whose existence is merely transitory, have re- 

 ceived this name from the peculiarity which indicates that 

 they have but a borrowed figure. The Latin word larva 

 signified the mask worn by tragedians or comedians, in the 

 representation of characters on the stage. 



The larvae vary in general structure, in manners, and 

 habits, in the different orders. It is, however, under this 

 form, that the insect acquires almost all its growth. For 

 the nymph, to all appearance, and most certainly the perfect 

 insect, increase no more in volume. 



