548 LEPIDOPTERA. 
each of which creatures would demand more space than can be given to the 
whole of the insects, 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
WE now come to an order in which are included the most beautiful of all. 
insects, namely, the Butterflies and Moths. On account of the feather-like 
scales with which their wings are covered, and to which the exquisite colour- 
ing is due, they are technically called Lepidoptera, or scale-winged insects. 
‘The wings are four in number, and it is occasionally found that the two pairs 
are connected together hy a strong bristle in one and a hook-like appendage 
in the other, so that the two wings of each side practically become one mem- 
SWALLOW-TAILED BUTTERFLY.—(Pufilio machaon.) 
ber, ina manner similar to the formation of many hymenopterous insects. 
Those species which take any nourishment subsist entirely upon liquid fcod, 
whichis drawn intothe system by suction. and not by means of a brush, as is the 
case with the liquid-feeding beetles and bees. The wings are strengthened 
by nervures, which are of great usc in determining the position of the insects. 
The scales with which the membranous wings are at once protected and 
adorned are of vari us shapes, sometimes broad, flat, and overlapping each 
other like the tiles of a house-roof. 
The series of changes undergone by the Lepidoptera are, perhaps, better 
known than those of any other order, on account of the large dimensions and 
conspicuous habits of the insects. 
Having given this general glance at the order, we will now proceed to our 
examples. 
In the system which is adopted in this work, the Lepidoptera are divided 
