CHAPTER III 



THE BUTTERFLY: A STUDY IN ANIMAL 

 COLORATION 



Butterflies, together with Moths, belong to the order 

 Lepidoptera,' insects that when fully developed have long, 

 coiled, sucking mouth parts forming, together, the proboscis, 

 and large, membranous wngs covered 

 with colored scales. All Lepidoptera 

 undergo a complete metamorphosis. 

 Ijepidoptera occur on all continents, but 

 there are more species in the tropics of 

 South America and Africa than elsewhere. 

 The number of known species is over 

 twenty-five thousand. 



General Development. — The Lepidoj)- 

 tera in their development from the egg 

 undergo fundamental changes in form. 

 The eggs, of which the female may lay 

 several hundred, consist of a germ en- 

 closed in a tough coat or egg membrane. 

 As the germ develops, tlie membrane 

 finally bursts and a little wormlike creature emerges. Its bodj'' 

 is made up of a numlwr of rings placed one behind the other. 

 The first of the rings is the head and bears the biting jaws. 

 Certain of the rings that follow bear legs which end in claws. 



^ Lq}is, scale; petron, wiug. 

 29 



Fig. 31. 



