cclxxii 
Hexopod A. IN SECTS. Lepidoptek a. 
Sub-order— LEPIDOP'J’ERA. 
Butterflies and Motlis make up tlie meiubersliip of 
this group. 'I'lie term wliicli is used to indicate tliem 
collectively is from the Greek, meaning “scale-wing- 
ed.” Linnaeus first applied it, on account of the 
presence in the typical forms of small powdery scales 
upon the wings. It is a chai'acter of less importance 
I han some others ; but the fact of its long service in 
Ihe science of Entomology gives it, like a few more 
equally venerable, a right of tenure that few would 
now question. 'J’he Lepidoptera are essentially Ply- 
ing insects ; they have broad, extended wings, made 
np of a li-amework of hollow “veins,” within which 
is an air-tube, around which the blood flows. 'I’he 
form that these tubes take in branching indicates 
characters that are recognized in the establishment 
of genera and families. The legs being used only for 
supports while resting, are not powerfully developed, 
and are very uniform in size and aspect. The head 
is small, and the mouth oi'gans but feebly developed, 
as the food is mostly taken in a liquid state by suc- 
tion. 'I’he thorax is proportionately large, since the 
l)Owerful muscles that propel the wings require suf- 
ficient space for attachment. 'I'he antennae are im- 
portant organs, and many forms are very beautiful ; 
in feathery adornment in Moths, or knobbed in the 
Butterflies. Connected with the tongue is what is 
termed a sucking stomach, which connects with the 
posterior end of the oesophagus, opening into it. 
Two long glands, situated along the sides of the ab- 
domen, and opening by a common orifice — in the 
larva — are those which secrete the silken mate- 
rial. When the Caterpillar is about to change its 
condition, having matured, these glands are seen to 
be completely developed. The silk is spun from 
these receptacles in the form of a glutinous secretion, 
which becomes thread-like on exposure to the air. 
'I’here is complete metamorphosis in this group. 'I’he 
larvae are worms, and the i)up8e resemble the adult in 
most respects. On hatching from the egg the young- 
first eat the shelly covering. 'I’hese, from the first, 
bear a pretty close resemblance to the full-grown 
larva. Several moultings take place during its 
growth, the worm growing rapidly while freely feed- 
ing upon vegetable matter of its particular choice. 
When the worm has reached its growth it ceases to 
eat, and commences to spin a silken cocoon, or to 
gather around it a quantity of dirt or bits of leaves. 
Cocoons are more or less beautiful and complicated ; 
those of the Silk-worm are among the most perfect. 
It is estimated that the Silk-worm, in weaving its 
cocoon, moves its head to and fro, in a zig-zag man- 
ner, to place the threads, about 254,000 times. Four 
or five days are required for this process. 'I’here are 
many cocoons of other IForms that are simply made 
u[) of the hairs of the Caterpillar glued together. 
The structure of the wings of these Insects is exceed- 
ingly interesting, and may be well studied and ad- 
mired by aid of even a small magnifying glass. Un- 
der a glass the little “scales” are seeli to be like 
shingles that are placed one upon another, exactly as 
the latter ai-e on the roof of a house. 'I’hey are. 
however, more like the feathers of a bird in tlieir in- 
sertion in the skin by the quill portion. Some in- 
stances of hermaiihroditism are known among the 
Moths and Butterflies. 
Famu.y PAPJLIONJDiE {Butterflies). — 'I’hese 
Diurnal Lepidoptera are distinguished readily from 
the Moths by their slender and knobbed antennae. 
'I’here are about five thousand species known. 
In North America nine liundred are enumerated. 
Mr. Scudder i-ecords ninety-five species as found in 
New England. 'I’he genus Papilio has over three 
hundred species. ' 'I'he pupae of these forms are ex- 
ceedingly pretty in outline. 'I’he perfect Flies of the 
genera Vanessa and Grapta are among the most ele- 
gant in their sculptured wings, notched and angulat- 
ed in various pleasing patterns. 
Family SPHINGID.® {Ilawh-moths, or Hum- 
ming-bird Moths). — 'I’he members of this family are 
large and stout, and capable of sustaining a steadier 
and more lengthy flight than the Butterflies. About 
three hundred or four hundred species are'known,a 
large portion being common to tropical America. 
'I’he large bird-like Moths seen at dusk around flowers 
in May and June are prominent examjiles of this group. 
'I’he great Potato-worm (.Macrosila.) is one of the 
largest of the family. 'I’he genus 'I’hyreus is especial- 
ly notable for its beautifully scalloped wings. 'I’he 
body, also, is well defined in outline, as well as large. 
Famii.y .^GERIAD/E is represented by gayly- 
colored Moths. 'I'hey are small in size, and have 
wings much resembling those of Bees and AFasps. 
A pretty' example is the Peach-tree Rover (jEgeria). 
Fa.mily ZYG/ENIDyE is interesting as being the 
medium of connection between the two groups. Diur- 
nal and Nocturnal. 'I’he Castnia exhibits strong- 
likeness to the Butterflies. 
Fajiily BOMBYCID.® includes the largest and 
most elegant species of the Nocturnal Lepidoptera. 
'I’he Caterpillars are varied extremely in ornamenta- 
tion. 'I’he bea utiful 'I’ussock-moth AVorms are among 
them ; for example, the Halesidota. 'I’ufts of hair 
are situated on tubercular spots, which are often 
highly colored. Some familiar forms are seen on our 
apple trees and on the garden vegetables. Genus 
Euclea is stout and woolly, and is represented by a 
species which we have seen in Central Park, N. Y., 
feeding upon the Syringa. Packard named it E. moni- 
tor, from the fact that the curious brown saddle-like 
spot on the back, M'hich reminds one of the “cheese- 
box ” or turret. Its body is very regularly elliptical, 
thus resembling the hull of a vessel. 'I’he genus At- 
tacus embraces some of the largest species of Insects ; 
one form (A. atlas) found in China, spreading nine 
inches in breadth of wings. 'I’he silk obtained from 
these Insects forms an extensive article of com- 
merce, and efforts have been made to introduce some 
foreign species into our country for the purpose of 
raising this product. Some species in Central Amer- 
ica afford gooil cocoons of this valuable article. 
PlIAL.FNlD.iB — 'I’he Geometer .Moths have 
larvae of peculiar habits. Some are so developed 
that they progress in the form of a loop. 'I’he Inch- 
worms are an example. 
