42 Insect Life : Its Why and Wherefore 
outline of the body can be seen through 
them when they are at rest. The body is 
slender and delicate in its proportions, 
and of a pleasing light green colour, while 
the eyes sparkle with a beautiful lustrous 
gold tint. It is an example of one of 
those beautiful insects, the colouring of 
which it has surpassed the cunning of 
man to retain. Just as men have failed 
to preserve the colours of some of the 
more beautiful dragon flies, so they have 
been at a loss here. While the wings keep 
something of their lustre, the beauteous 
gold of the eye fades out, and the body 
changes its colour. 
A Means of Defence. — The lace wing 
fly is no prime favourite with the collector 
of moths, perhaps partly for this reason, 
the difficulty of preservation, but the 
experienced hunter of varieties will afford 
you another stranger reason still why he 
dislikes catching the lace wing. It will 
when caught give out a most peculiarly 
offensive odour, and one which sticks. 
If you have ever handled one of these 
little insects and then smelled your fingers, 
you will not forget it. The tenacious 
