146 



THE UNIVERSE. 



nize the larva by the absence of its wings, and the nymjih 

 by its having merely rudimentary ones; this is the case 

 with the wood-bugs and the Forficute or earwigs. But 



87. Eanvig — Forficula aitricularia. Adult, Nympli, and Larva. 



generally the i^erfect insect only reaches the term of life 

 after having undergone a total metamor^Dhosis. Its last 

 form is only a l)rilliant wedding garment, and it almost 

 always expires as soon as ever the torches of Hymen are 

 extinguished. Many an insect, the Ephemera for example, 

 passes several years in its development beneath the 

 mud and water, an unknown and im2oerfect larva; then it 

 acquires wings and only exists an hour with all the pre- 

 rogatives of life ! 



In species which display radical metamorphoses, the 

 two modes of existence having no relation, the organism 

 naturally undergoes an absolute transformation. 



The butterfly, which is henceforth to nourish itself with 

 nectar, throws off its voracious caterpillar's head and 

 powerful mandibles, now become useless; an extended 

 prol)OScis to suck the juice of flowers replaces them. 

 Tlie vigorous feet of the larva — the hooks of which cling 

 so strongly to the leaves — would injure the flowers which 

 the butterfly is henceforth to haunt; he releases himself 

 from them, and exchanges them for long and delicate 



