HYBERNATION OF INSECTS. 435 
the expansion of the leaves, nearly a month earlier than 
those of the latter: thus demonstrably proving that the 
hybernation of these eggs is not accidental, but has been 
specially ordained by the Author of nature, who has 
conferred on those of each species a peculiar and appro- 
priate organization. 
A much greater number of insects pass the winter in 
the pupa than in the egg state; probably nine-tenths of 
the extensive order Lepidoptera, many in Hymenoptera, 
and seyeral in other orders. In placing these pupz in 
security from the too great cold of winter and the attacks 
of enemies, the larvee from which they are to be meta- 
morphosed exhibit an anxiety and ingenuity evidently 
imparted to them for this express design. A few are 
suspended without any covering, though usually in a 
sheltered situation. But by far the larger number are 
concealed under leaves, in the crevices or in the trunk of 
trees, &c., or inclosed in cocoons of silk or other mate- 
rials which will be described to you in a subsequent let- 
ter, and often buried deep under ground out of the reach 
of frost.—One reason why so many lepidopterous insects 
pass the winter as pupee, has been plausibly assigned by 
Rosel, in remarking that this is the case with all the nu- 
merous species which feed on annual plants. As these 
have no local habitation, dying one year and springing 
up from seed in another quarter the next, it is obvious 
that eggs deposited upon them in autumn would have no 
chance of escaping destruction ; and that even if the larvee 
were to be hatched before winter, and to hybernate in 
that state, they would have no certainty of being in the 
neighbourhood of their appropriate food the next spring. 
By wintering in the pupa state, these accidents are effec- 
2F2 
