574 
ARTICULATA. 
there tlie Painted Lady: the Golden C. Butterfly, V. C. aureum^ marked behind the wings 
with a golden C : and many others. 
The Berenice, Danaus Berenice^ has dark red wings, with black rims and a black border, 
with two rows of white spots. It feeds on the poisonous leaves of the different kinds of milk- 
weed. 
The Id ALIA, Argynnis Idalia^ has the fore-wings red, with black marks, and the hind-wings 
bluish-black on the upper sides ; the under sides of all the wings are covered with silvery spots. 
Of the smaller butterflies, some of which are beautifully colored, there are almost innumer- 
able species. Among them is the Little Yellow Butterfly, Colias Philodice, which we often 
see in the late summer and early autumn months flying over the meadows, and gathei'ing in 
flocks in wet places in the highways. There are several species of Colias, all of which are more 
or less of a bright yellow color. 
THE HETEEOCEEA. 
This term is from the Greek heteros, various, and heras, a horn, and refers to the diversified 
forms of the antennae of the species of this extensive and interesting group. They are called 
Moths, and are mostly either crepuscular or nocturnal in their habits, though many fly by day. 
They include numerous tribes, some of which we shall briefly notice. 
THE death's-head MOTH. 
THE SPHINGINA. 
Of this tribe there are many species : they have the antennae thickened in the middle or to- 
ward the end, but terminate in an acute point. They are generally prismatic in their form; the 
wings are long and narrow, but firm, and adapted for powerful flight ; the trunk is almost always 
well developed, sometimes longer than the body. The name of Sphinx, applied to the typical 
o-enus of these insects, is derived from the habit of the larvae of sitting with the head and fore- 
part of the body raised in an attitude v/hich, to a f^mciful imagination, bears some resemblance 
to the Sphinx of the ancients. Most of these insects fly in the twilight ; but some are to be found 
hovering over flowers in the brightest sunshine, extracting the nectar by means of their long trunks. 
They are generally of considerable size; the most remarkable species is the Death' s-Head Moth, 
Acherontia Atrojjos, a large kind, variegated with dark brown and yellow, bearing upon the back 
of the thorax a deep orange mark, presenting no inconsiderable resemblance to the front of a hu- 
man skull. Hence this insect has been regarded as ominous of pestilence — a feeling probably 
not diminished by its power of emitting a plaintive squeak when disturbed. The larva is very 
partial to the potato-plant, and the pupas are often turned up in digging potato-grounds. The 
moth, which has a very short trunk, is a great enemy to bees, invading their hive and feeding 
upon their honey. It is supposed to frighten the bees by the squeaking noise above referred to, 
