SO EEE — 
LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. 99 
females deposit their eggs, they very soon die, seldom 
living a few days, sometimes only a few hours after- 
wards ; but should pairing be prevented, their lives, 
and particularly that of the female, may be pro- 
tracted to an indefinite period. Collectors, indeed, 
find it is with the utmost difficulty a female can he 
deprived of her life before laying ; and we have no 
doubt, that the marvellous stories reported of the 
revival of flies and other insects, after long immer- 
sion in spirits, or after being crushed in shutting a 
book, originated in this circumstance, as well as the 
prolonged life of some insects, which is given on good 
authority.” * 
It is a most singular circumstance, in the case 
above quoted, that moths which have not met with 
a mate, should live so considerable a time beyond 
the limits ordinarily prescribed by nature; and it 
would be difficult, on physiological principles, to ac- 
count for it. There are also some examples of but- 
terflies continuing their existence even for months, 
as may be instanced in the Peacock Butterfly, the 
Nettle Tortoise-shell Butterfly, and several others, 
which are hatched late in the autumn, and live in 
a torpid state till the spring, when they meet with 
a mate. Had these been hatched earlier in the 
summer, and laid their eggs, they would haye died, 
like most of their congeners. 
* Insect Miscellany, p. 217. 
