THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



141 



Aristotle, whose genius lias thrown such a brilliant light 

 upon the history of animals, had only suspected their meta- 

 morphoses. We must come to the period of the Renais- 

 sance, and see Redi begin to trace their history with a 



83. Sacred Dung-beetle of the Egyptians— ^(cmcAus mcer (Latreille). 



steady hand. To the illustrious physician of Florence suc- 

 ceeded Malpighi, the great anatomist, and Goedart, a 

 simple and excellent observer, who, in a book as rare as it 

 is curious, brought under notice each caterpillar and its 

 butterfly. 



At birth the insect is always wingless. The apparatus 

 for flying is only developed at the last stage of its existence 

 — that which is consecrated solely to reproduction. The 

 young creature generally presents itself under the form of 

 a worm, to which Linnaeus gave the name of larva or mask, 



