CLASSIFICATION. 
2G1 
These insects belong to an order called LefidopTera, 
which means scaly wings ; for the mealy powder with which 
their wings are covered, when 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 wings by short stems. The body of these insects 
is also more or less covered with the same kind of scales, 
together with hair or down in some species. The tongue 
consists of two tubular threads placed side by side, and thus 
forming an instrument for suction, which, when 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 wing-joints of the fore 
wings are covered, on each side, by a small triangular piece, 
forming a kind of epaulette, or shoulder-cover ; and between 
the head and the thorax is a narrow piece, clothed with 
scales or hairs sloping backwards, which may be called the 
collar. The wings have a few branching veins, 3 generally 
forming one or two large meshes on the middle. The legs 
are six in number, though only four are used in walking by 
some butterflies, in which the first pair are very short and 
are folded like a tippet on the breast ; and the feet are five- 
jointed, and are terminated, each, by a pair of claws. 
It would 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 unknown ; 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 Lepid’optera into three great 
sections, called butterflies, hawk-moths, and moths, corre- 
[ 8 The systematic of the present day determine genera, and even species, by 
the peculiar and various modifications of these veins. The main veins are called 
neri'ures, the branches nei'vules , and the whole system Plerology. 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. — Mourns.] 
