Microscopical Essays. 



together, fo as to flrengthen and convey nourifhment to the 

 feveral parts of the wing, while by the diverfity of their ramifica- 

 tions they add to it's beauty ; many have their wings fortified 

 with briftly hairs, which they can erect at pleafure, Plate XV. 

 Fig. 1. 



The wings of the moth and butterfly are moftly farinaceous, 

 being covered with a fine duft, which renders them opake, and 

 is alfo the caufe of thofe beautiful and variegated colours which 

 fo richly adorn them, that 



<e Not all the fhew and mockery of ftate, 



The little, low, fine follies of the great ; 



Not all the wealth which eaftern pageants wore* 



What ftill our idolizing worlds adore, 



Can boafl the leaft inimitable grace 



Which decks profufive this illuftrious race." 



Ever fince the microfcope was invented, this duft has engaged 

 the attention of the microfcopic obferver. For by this inflru- 

 ment it is found to be a regular affemblage of organized fcales^ 

 of various fhapes and colours, fome long and (lender, fome fhort 

 and broad, fome notched at the edges, others fmooth, generally 

 furnifhed with a kind of foot ftalk, by which they are fixed to 

 /the wing, fee Fig. E F H I, of Plate XVI. Their fhapes are not 

 only very different in moths of various fpecies, but of thofe on 

 the fame moth fome will be found to be nearly oval, while others 

 are triangular ; a variety of large flripes, or ribs, are to be dis- 

 covered in thefe fcales, and between thefe larger ramifications 

 minuter lines may be feen ; the larger ftripes feem in general to 



rife 



