76 ON THE FOOD OF MOTHS. 



nature, it will rather die than feed upon another 

 kind, although this would have been quite agreeable 

 to their palate prior to eating that other plant acci- 

 dentally.* AVe must also keep in view, that insects 

 feed on different kinds of food in their various stages 

 of existence, from the larva, to the imago condition. 

 In the first state, they feed either on the leaves or 

 other parts of plants, while the perfect insect feeds 

 almost exclusively on the nectar of flowers. 



Some of the Thaltena feed during the day, while 

 others feed only at night, or in the evening. The 

 Nycierohius, mentioned by MrM'Leay.asinhabiting 

 New Holland, lay up their store of provisions du- 

 ring the night, and feed on it through the day. 



The larva; of papilionaceous insects far exceed all 

 others in the quantity of food they consume. They 

 are furnished with jaws, which are admirably 

 adapted for gnawing leaves, and act somewhat in 

 the manner of shears. 



Nature has endowed many of the animals of this 

 order with wonderful powers for providing them- 

 selves with habitations, and these frequently con- 

 stmcted in a manner admirably calculated for the 

 comfort of the resident. 



The Tinea Wilkella, Clerkella, and others, arc 

 tenued the subcutaneous larvte, from their feeding 

 upon the parenchyma included between the upper 

 and under cuticles of the leaves of plants, of lilac, 



• Reaumur, ii. 324. 



