Canadiau BuUerjUes. 217 



tip. They are also destitute ox the bristle at the base of tlie &\\- 

 terior edge of the second pair of wings, which in the moths passes 

 through a loop in the under side of the fore wings, retaining them 

 in their proper position during flight. The wing;* when zi rest are, 

 with a few exceptions, carried erect over the back, their upjier 

 surfaces being brought into contact. Their flight is invariably 

 diurnal, and they are always furnished v.ith a proboscis or t ngue. 

 The under side of the wings is generally equally ornamented with 

 the upper, and frequently exhibits a different pattern. Their 

 Caterpillars are consiantiy furnihed with 16 feet (6 thoracic, 8 

 ventral, and 2 anal.) They are frequently smooth, but are gene- 

 rally armed with sharp branched spines and other appendages. 

 Their chrysalides are almost always naked, attached by the tail 

 and often by a girth of silk round the middle of the body. The}- 

 are often angular in their form, s-arcely ever enclosed in a cocoon, 

 and a few are subterranean. They are variously and sometimes 

 handsomely coloured, and many present those metallic huts fronj 

 which the terms "Chrysalis" (chrusos gold,) and "Aurelia" (aureus^ 

 golden) take their orgin. The word "Butterfly'" is a literal trans- 

 lation of the Saxon word, Btdtor-fleoze^ and is supposed to be ap- 

 plied because the insects first became prevalent at the beginning 

 of the season for butter. Butterflies are the most generally and 

 familiarly known of all the insect tribes ; and by their conspicuous 

 appearance, and splendid colours, seldom fail to attract the notice 

 e\'en of those whose perceptions are least alJN'e to the beauty of 

 natural objects. The species are very numerous; between 2000 

 and 3000 have been described, and it is probable a very consi- 

 derable number remain undiscovered. In the larva state thev 

 feed on a great variety of plants, from the towering oak of the 

 forest to the humble cabbage of our gardens ; but, in their perfect 

 form, they derive their sustenance entirely from the nectareous 

 juices of flowers and fruits. It is worthy of remark, that most of 

 the principal gi'oups are characterized by tlie prevalence of parti- 

 cular hues ; thus, the greater portion of the genus Pieris is white ; 

 CoUas, various shades of yellow ; Arc/i/nnifi, almost invariably 

 fulvous or reddish brown ; the Lycoma, are mostlj' fulgid copper 

 colour; and the Poli/ommati^ are either blue or brown. 



The Diurnal Lepidoptera are divisible into the six following 

 families, all of which are represented in North America ;— 



J. Papiiionidas, ' 4. Erycinida;, 



2. Heliconi .se, , o. Ljcaenida;, 



;l Nymphalida\ j (>. Hesperida'. 



