INTRODUCTION 
65 
perhaps, than can be found in any ottier we have in 
Britain. There was an old Aurelian in London, so 
highly delighted at the inimitable flight of Camilla, 
that, long after he was unable to pursue her, he used 
to go to the woods, and sit down on a style, for the 
sole purpose of feasting his eyes with her fascinating 
evolutions !” 
The hinder section of the body is the abdomen, 
which presents nothing peculiar in its form or struc- 
ture. It consists of six or seven segments, and 
is attached to the posterior part of the thorax by a 
very small portion of its diameter. It is without 
any appendage at the extremity, there being nothing 
analogous to a sting or ovipositor among butter- 
flies. 
Before acquiring their perfect form, these crea- 
tures, as is well known, pass through several diffe- 
rent states of existence, in which they are distin- 
guished by organs and properties of a wholly dissi- 
milar kind. Of these a somewhat detailed account 
is necessary, in order to afford any thing like a com- 
plete view of their'history. 
All these insects originate from eggs, which are 
carefully deposited on the leaves and other parts of 
plants, by the parent fly, after accomplishing which, 
she soon dies. These eggs are sometimes placed 
singly, at other times in groups containing consider- 
able numbers. They are always covered by a coat- 
ing of varnish, which serves the double purpose 
E 
