LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. gs 
Hrewhile the changeful worm, with circling head, 
Weaves the nice curtains of his silken bed 5 
Web within web involves his larva form, 
Alike secured from sunshine and from storm ; 
For twelve long days he dreams of blossom’d groves, 
Untasted honey, and ideal loves, 
Wakes from his trance, alarm’d with young desire, 
Finds his new sex, and feels ecstatic fire 5 
From flower to flower, with honey’d lips he springs, 
And seeks his velvet loves on silver wings. 
Mr John Henry Davies, curator of the museum of 
the Portsmouth Philosophical Society, has recorded 
some curious and satisfactory observations on the 
subject.” He says,—‘ It has been asserted, that the 
males of lepidopterous insects are guided to the 
females by a peculiar instinct ; so that an unimpreg- 
nated female, being carried in a wire cage along the 
hedges and other haunts of this tribe, will attract the 
males of that species, so that they may be easily 
captured. 
« T haye never had an opportunity of trying this 
experiment ; but the following fact, which has lately 
fallen under my observation, leaves me no room to 
doubt the correctness of the assertion, as it proves 
the existence, and exhibits the operation of this 
instinct in a very remarkable manner. 
« Being engaged in adding the British insects to 
“ Zoological Journal, vol. y, p. 142. 
