154 NAMES OP INSECTS. 



the edges of each feather rainbow tints dance and 

 quiver. It seems as if the creature wore two robes 

 — a loose golden -feather vesture above, and the rain- 

 bow itself beneath. Each fibre of the fringe that 

 edges the wings is a prism, and even the slender 

 antennae are covered with golden feathers. Words 

 cannot describe the wondrous beauty of this creature. 



Methinks a view of these earthly creatures can the 

 better enable one to appreciate the ineffable glories 

 of the heavenly beings. Even the earth-insect is 

 beautiful beyond the power of words to describe — 

 how much more so the heavenly angel ! 



When the study of entomology first rose to the 

 dignity of a science, it was found necessary that each 

 insect should be distinguished by a definite title. 

 Formerly, it was necessary to describe the insect 

 when speaking of it ; and in consequence both 

 cabinets and memories were overloaded with words. 



For example, the Meadow-brown Butterfly was 

 named " Papilio media alis superioribus superne 

 media parte runs ". In English : " The middle-sized 

 butterfly, the centre of whose upper wings are red- 

 dish on the upper surface ". Cromwell's Puritan 

 soldier might have taken a lesson in nomenclature 

 from an entomologist cabinet ; and it is not easy to 

 say which would occupy the greater time in reading, 

 the list of butterflies or the regimental roll-call. 

 These difficulties being patent, the nomenclators 

 leaped at once, as is the habit of human nature, into 



