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at this time, tlie second period of Insect life, viz : that of the 

 Larva. He remarked, that this term had a secondary signifi- 

 cation of classical authority, that of a mask^ and its aptness of 

 use was seen in the second stage of insect life. In the 

 unseemly caterpillar and grub were enclosed the resplendant 

 beetle or gorgeous butterfly. Thus were beauty and higher 

 intelligence masked under hideous and sometimes grotesque 

 forms. He noticed the external anatomy of the larva, alluding 

 to the several organs of the head, to the labium or underlip, of 

 various shapes, sometimes quadrangular, often conical ; — to the 

 labium of the Libellula, as described by Reaumur ; and to the 

 singular fancy of the Reduviiis perso7iatus, which forms an 

 artificial visor for its head, for the better seeking of its prey. — 

 After many illustrations, the legs of the larva were noticed. — 

 Generally these organs Ave re so small as to be scarcely more 

 than rudimentary, yet containing in miniature all the parts of 

 the true legs. The larva of some insects are destitute of legs — 

 but their number, whenever present, are always six; beside 

 these six legs, the body is in some cases supported by numer- 

 ous processes, which assume the same ofiice. 



In the Geometers, or Measurer "Worms, span worms and 

 loop worms, as they are called, there are organs at each end of 

 the body ; those in front being termed prolegs ; each of which 

 are furnished with minute hooks, by the use of which they rea- 

 dily crawl over smooth surfaces. The mechanism of the hooks 

 on the sole of the foot of the prolog, was worthy of study in 

 itself. 



The larvae of many fine moths and of some of the butterflies, 

 were furnished with organs seeming like horris, stinging and 

 defensive, or retractile and disagreeable in aspect and odor. A 

 variety of covering was noticeable in the larvae. When their 

 skins were smooth they commonly pass for worms and grubs ; 

 but when they are hairy they are called caterpillars. In the 

 hairy coated kinds, there are often marks of much beauty, ele- 



