THE CLASSES. 8 
thicker in the middle ; they have two pairs of large wings 
set near the head, the under ones of some fold double, and 
all close together along the back and slope down over the 
sides like the roof of a house, in an irregular triangular 
form—commencing like a point at the shoulders and grow- 
ing broader to the ends. The top of the head, shoulders, 
and exposed parts of the folded wings, are in general set 
with a fine short down, which fringes the edges of the 
wings, and glistens in the sun with rich reflections; the 
under wings and parts are plain ; their thighs are thick and 
fleshy, their legs long, and set with like small feet similar 
to the moths—to which they seem akin ; and they sport on 
the wing much more in the dusk and twilight than in the 
day time; they are in general tender and susceptible of 
cold—a warm evening shews many of the species up in 
great numbers, when they are very active and nimble, fly- 
ing off in quick whirls and rounds, and running exceedingly 
fast. They are a very numerous class, of various sizes, 
colors, and mottles, varying in shade from the light coppery 
tinge to the deep dun hue of the thunder cloud, which has 
namedthem. They are all bred in the water, from creepers, 
that are enclosed in artificial cases, singularly composed 
around them for their preservation ; most of them swarm 
twice a year. The following species have been under 
notice : 
Early Dun. F ‘ ‘ . Page l7 
Grannam or Greentail . ‘ ‘ fi 27 
Sanded Dun . i F i ‘i ‘ 38 
Plover . ‘ : js é i 39 
Freckled “ i i ‘ i is 40 
Light . 5 - % j , 40 
Little Freckled Dun. , é i 43 
Least . i j a é 44 
Feeted . a ‘ é 2 , . 45 
Dark. z F F % F ‘ 46 
Red : é i ‘ i é i 46 
Brown . ‘ ‘ ‘ * 7 é 58 
