VADE MECUM. .'3 



tlic i)uiiH)s(> of < lassiljcation. Tlioii- names arc, likewisp, 

 KometimeN taken from the plants on wliicli tlipy food. Tlie 

 size of Butterflies varies but little ; in the largest species, 

 seldom above a few lines ; the females are almost without 

 exception larger than the nmles, and vary considerably in 

 colour; their wings, wlien sitting, are usually erect, and 

 meet upwards ; tlieir flight is in the day time. 



The Butterfly requires no other food than the nectareons 

 juices which are distilled from flowers, or the sacchai-ine 

 sub.stance which exudes from tlie leaves of vegetables ; it 

 will sometimes alight and suck the sweets of ripe fruit that 

 ha-s been broken by its fall. The skies are its proper habita- 

 tion—the air is its element ; tlie pageantry of princes cannot 

 equal the ornaments with wluch it is invested, or the rich 

 colouring that embellislies its wings. There is uotliiug in 

 the animal creati<m so beautiliil or splendid as many sjiecies 

 of these insects ; tliey serve to banish solitude from om- 

 walks, and to fill u]) our idle intervals with the most pleas- 

 ing speculations. 



" Who loves not the gay Butterfly, wliieli flits 



Before liim in tlie ardent noon, array'd 



lu crimson, azm-e, emerald, and gold; 



With more maguificence upon his wing. 



His little wing — than ever grac'd tlie robe 



Gorgeous of royalty ; is like the kine 



That wanders mid the flowers whicli gem the mead. 



Unconscious of their beauty " 



CAimiNGTON's DARTMOOR,/^. 33. 



Almost all insects are oviparous. Nature keeps her but- 

 terflies, motlis, and caterpillars locked up during the winter 

 in their egg state ; and we liave to admire llie various de- 

 vices to which, if we may so speak, tlie same iialine resorts 



