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TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
are so difficult to resolve into such shapes, except with very good 
microscopes, handled by first-rate histologists — are dried drops of 
some secretion which is upon the scale when the whole wing is 
moist, immediately after metamorphosis. 
All the Lepidoptera , although the name implies to the contrary, 
have not their wings perfectly covered with scales. The wings of 
SCALES OF DIFFERENT GENERA OF LEPIDOPTERA. 
i, 2. Papilio machaon. 3, 4. Morpho raenelas. 5. Pamphila aracanthus. 6. 
Sesia apiformis. 7. Zygasna filipendulse. 8, 9, 10. Sphinx ligustri. 11. Pterophorus 
pentadactylus. 
some are more or less transparent, and this is because they are 
not covered with scales ; nevertheless these elegant structures are 
to be found on the margins, upon the nervures, and on some parts 
of the wings. They are never entirely deficient, and must be 
looked upon in all the Lepidoptera as structures superadded during 
the second metamorphosis. 
The legs of the Lepidoptera are almost always very slender in 
proportion to the size and weight of the body. The adult insects, 
