CLASS inseota: oedbr lepidopteka. 



311 



Fig S61 



ORDER LEPIDOPTERA. 



General Characteristics. — The Lepidopters (scale- 

 winged) have wings covered with colored scales, that come 

 off at the slightest touch. These are so minute that four 

 hundred thousand have 

 been counted on a single 

 insect. The larvae are all 

 Caterpillars, with legs on 

 the thorax and not on 

 the abdomen. The But- 

 terflies have knobbed an- 

 tennae, and hold their 

 wings upright when at 

 rest. The Moths have 

 antennae feathery and 

 variously shaped, but 

 never knobbed. They 

 usually spin cocoons, the 

 metamorphosis being 

 complete. 



Papilionidse. — The 

 Butterflies * are strictly 

 diurnal, and produce cat- 

 erpillars destructive to 

 foliage. 



Sphingidse. — The 

 Sphinges (moths) usually 

 fly in the twilight or 

 night. The Death's-head 



PajnCw machSon, Butterfly. 



Moth, SO called because on the back of its thorax there is a 



• Their long, tongne-like proboscis consists of two threads, each a semi-canal, 

 ■which nnite to form a tube for thrusting into flowers to extract their sweet juices. 

 When not in use it can he coiled up like a watch-spring. The Lepidopter's flitting 

 flight aids in escaping its enemies. The number and variety of this beautiful family 

 make it the delight of the student, while the wonderful transformation from the ' 

 crawling worm to the brilliant insect, affords an ever welcome and touching type of 

 the final release of the soul of man from the darkness of the grave. 



