CLASSIFICATION. 
261 
These insects belono; to an order called Lepidoptera, 
which means scaly Avings; for the mealy powder with Avhich 
their wings are covered, Avhen seen under a powerful micro¬ 
scope, is found to consist of little scales, lapping over each 
other like the scales of fishes, and implanted into the skin 
of the Avings by short stems. The body of these insects 
is also more or less covered AAuth the same kind of scales, 
together Avith hair or doAAm in some species. The tongue 
consists of two tubular threads placed side by side, and thus 
forming an instrument for suction, Avhich, A\dien not in use, 
is rolled up spirally beneath the head, and is more or less 
covered and concealed on each side by a little scaly or hairy 
jointed feeler. The shoulders or Aving-joints of the fore 
Avings are covered, on each side, by a small triangular piece, 
forming a kind of epaulette, or shoulder-coA'er ; and between 
the head and the thorax is a narroAV piece, clothed Avith 
scales or hairs sloping backAvards, Avhich may be called the 
collar. The Avings have a feAv branching veins,^ generally 
forming one or tAvo large meshes on the middle. The legs 
are six in number, though only four are used in AA^alking by 
some butterflies, in Avhich the first pair are A’eiy short and 
are folded like a tippet on the breast; and the feet are five- 
jointed, and are terminated, each, by a pair of claAvs. 
It Avould be difficult, and indeed impossible, to arrange 
the Lepidopterous insects according to their forms, appear¬ 
ance, and habits, in the caterpillar state, because the cater¬ 
pillars of many of them are as yet unknoAAm ; and therefore 
it is found expedient to classify them mostly according to the 
characters furnished by them in the winged state. 
We may first divide the Lepidoptera into three great 
sections, called butterflies, haAA'k-moths, and moths, coiTe- 
[ 8 The systematists of the present day determine genera, and even species^ by 
the peciiliar and various modifications of these veins. The main veins are called 
nen'ures, the branches net'vules, and the whole system Pterology. The French 
and the Germans differ as to the names of the distinct veins, so that, unless a 
student knows to which of the schools a describer belongs, he would be apt to be 
misled. — Morris.] 
