NATURAL HISTORY. 
179 
latter is arranged in the greateft fplendor and 
beauty of glowing colours. The former 
was obliged to a grofs food ; but this imbibes 
the eflence of flowers, regales on dews and 
honey ; and perpetually varies its pleafure, 
in the full enjoyment of nature, which it 
moll delightfully embelliflics. 
A colleftion of thefe beautiful and varie- 
gated infedts is a Iplendid fpedlacle, where 
the richell and moll diTerfified colours de- 
light and allonilh the eye with their fliade 
and difpolition. The light alone enraptures. 
But^ what a fublimity of refledlion they af- 
ford to the contemplater of nature ! The 
period of the caterpillar’s reptile exillence 
being accompliflied, it entombs itfelf, for 
the pnrpole of riling again a fuperior being. 
The chryfallis is, at once, the tomb of the 
caterpillar, and the cradle of the butterfly. 
Under a traniparent veil, this miracle of na- 
ture is cft'edlcd ; from whence, like the fons 
of man riling from the tomb -at the day of 
refurre£lion, the butterfly breaks tlic barrier 
of its grave, and wafts itfelf into the air of 
heaven. Here it enjoys the efladgence of 
light and refpires the brceie, embalmed with 
the fwcets of nature. Succefslul in his ri- 
fling every ne£larous flower, his rell is the 
harbinger of enjoyment. His airy wings 
convey him from pleafure to pleafure, while 
they captivate man with their beauteous and 
Variegated fplcndour. And in this revelling 
from eflence to elTcnce, he is not to be caught 
