NATURAL HISTORY. 
l3l 
r/6f AMERICAN EMPEROR. 
TT HE ingenious Mr. Lifter fays, that, af- 
ter he had fupplied this caterpillar with vari- 
ous kinds of herbs, which it was tired of 
eating, he has placed before it feme nettles ; 
fuppofing it might be pleafed with a difterent 
kind of food. He faw, with great admira- 
tion, that the inleft became fo joyous as to 
feem, by its motion, to congratulate itfelf on 
fueh a repaft being fet before it. But, inch 
was the avidity vdth which the nettle - were 
eaten, that not any remained of them in a 
very Ihort time. Having thus nourilhed it- 
felt for a few days, it began in Oftober to 
prepare for transformation. Being then put 
under a glafs, the inleft affifted itielf to the 
centre, and thus hung lufpended. Idaving 
attained the ftate of transformation, it fo 
ftrongly moved itfelf, and ftrucit the giafs 
with fuch force, as even to caufe the vibration 
of the noife to laft while forty was counted. 
On the 12th of December, the fanre authen 
ohferves, that a perfeft infeft v/as produced, 
which was exceedingly beaurii'ul, and re- 
fembled in variety of colours the Peacock. 
It lived forty days; in which time he 'fays 
that he knew not any food on w Inch it fub- 
filtcd. 
Ihe 
