304 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
tree, eating its leaves, and preparing for a state of greater 
perfection. They have feet both belore and behind ; which 
not only enable them to move forward by a sort of steps 
made by their fore and hinder parts, but also to climb up 
vegetables, and to stretch themselves out from the boughs 
and stalks, to reach their food at a distance. All ot tins 
class have from eight feet, at the least, to sixteen : and this 
may serve to distinguish them from the worm tribe, that never 
have so many. The animal into which they are converted, 
is always a butterfly or a moth ; and these ate always distin- 
guished from other flies, by having their wings covered over 
with a painted dust, which gives them such various beauty. 
The wings of flies are transparent, as we see in the common 
flesh fly ; while those of beetles are hard, like horn : from 
such the wing of a butterfly may be easily distinguished; 
and words would obscure their differences. 
When the caterpillar first bursts from the egg, it is small 
and feeble; its appetites are in proportion to its size, and it 
seems to make no great consumption . but as it incteases in 
magnitude, it improves in its appetites; so that, in its adult 
caterpillar state, it is the most ravenous of all animals what- 
soever. A single caterpillar will eat double its own weight 
of leaves in a°day, and yet seem no way disordered by the 
meal. What would mankind do, if their oxen or their horses 
were so voracious ! 
The body of the caterpillar, when anatomically considered, 
is found composed of rings, whose circumference is pretty 
near circular or oval. T-hey are generally twelve in numbei, 
and are all membranaceous ; by which caterpillars may be 
distinguished from any other insect, that nearly resemble 
them m form. The head of the caterpillar is connected to 
the first ring by the neck, which is generally so short and 
contracted, that it is scarcely visible. All the covering of the 
head in caterpillars seems to consist of shell ; and they have 
neither upper nor under jaw, for they are both placed rather 
vertically, and each jaw armed with a large thick tooth, which 
is singly equal to a number. With these the animals devour 
their food in such amazing quantities ; and, with these, some 
of the kind defend themselves against their enemies. Though 
the mouth be kept shut, the teeth are always uncovered; and 
while the insect is in health, they are seldom without employ- 
ment. Whatever the caterpillar devours, these teeth serve to 
chop into small pieces, and render the parts of the leaf fit fa 1 ' 
swallowing. Many kinds while they are yet young, eat only 
the succulent part of the leaf, and leave all the fibres un- 
touched ; others, however, attack the whole leaf, and eat d 
