INTRODUCTION. Xxix 
contain. In this perfect condition, it is deprived of 
the very organs by which it could feed on vegetable 
matter, and is supplied by a proboscis for sipping 
the honey. It is no less remarkable, how, at one 
period of its existence, it emits from that stomach 
a substance for the formation of silky filaments, 
which, in its imago condition, it is incapable of 
doing. 
The knowledge of all these facts shut out the strict 
analogy which existed, before their discovery, between 
the transformation of lepidopterous insects, and the 
resurrection of the human body ; yet it affords a stri- 
king picture of that eventful change. Swammerdam, 
the very person whose discoveries have rendered this 
analogy less complete than it had been before his 
time imagined, was nevertheless deeply impressed 
with the singular transitions, and says, “ this pro- 
cess is formed in so remarkable a manner in butter- 
flies, that we see therein the resurrection painted 
before our eyes, and exemplified so as to be exami- 
ned by our hands.”* 
The Rey. Mr Kirby makes this interesting allusion 
to the subject: “ But although the analogy between 
* Hix's Swammerdam, vol. i. p. 127, a. 
