174 THE BUTTERFLY AND MOTH. 



fly's proper habitation, and the air its element; whilst man 

 comes into the world naked, and often roves about without habi- 

 tation or shelter; exposed, on one hand, to the heat of the sun. 

 and on the other, to the damps and exhalations of the earth, 

 both alike enemies of his happiness and existence. — A strong 

 proof that, while this little animal is raised to its greatest height, 

 we are as yet, in this world, only candidates for perfection ! 



-»♦©©©«— 



CHAPTER IV. 

 BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 



It has been already shown, that all Butterflies are bred from 

 caterpillars ; and we have exhibited the various circumstances 

 of that surprising change. It has been remarked, that butter- 

 flies may be easily distinguished from flies of every other kind by 

 their wings ; for, in others, they are either transparent, like gauze, 

 as we see in the common flesh fly, or they are hard and crusted, 

 as we see in the wings of the beetle. But in the butterfly, the 

 wings are soft, opaque, and painted over with a beautifur*dust 

 that comes off with handling. 



The number of these beautiful animals is very great; and 

 though Linnaeus has reckoned up above seven hundred and sixty 

 different kinds, the catalogue is still very incomplete. Every 

 collector of butterflies can show undescribed species ; and such 

 as are tl»nd of minute discovery, can here produce animals that 

 have been examined only by himself. In general, however, 

 those of the warm climates are larger and more beautiful than 

 such as are bred at home ; and we can easily admit the beauty 

 of the butterfly, since we are thus freed from the damage of the 

 caterpillar. It has been the amusement of some to collect these 

 animals from different parts of the world, or to breed them from 

 caterpillars at home. These they arrange in systematic order, 

 or dispose so as to make striking and agreeable pictures ; and 

 all must grant, that this specious idleness is far preferable to 

 that unhappy state which is produced by a total want of employ- 

 ment. 



The wings of butterflies, as was observed, fully distinguish 

 them from flies of every other kind. They are four in number; 

 and, although two of them be cut off, the animal can fly with 

 the two others remaining. They are, in their own substance, 

 transparent ; but owe their opacity to the beautiful dust with 

 which they are covered, and which has been likened, by some 

 naturalists, to the feathers of birds, by others, to the scales of 



