THE BUTTERFLY. 
135 
countless, they enable the butterfly to see on 
every side of her at once. 
The body of the butterfly is composed of rings, 
but it is so clothed with hair that you do not see 
them. And just where the upper wings are 
inserted, are a couple of scales, covered with 
tufts of hair, so that they hook like epaulets, 
and are called tippets. 
The corslet,* or breast of the butterfly, is very 
strong, because the upper wings and the legs are 
fixed in it; and it contains the muscles by which 
they are moved. The true legs of the caterpillar, 
as I told you before, inclosed those of the 
butterfly. They are six in number, but four 
only are made use of; the two fore-legs are so 
short, they do not touch the ground, and are al¬ 
most hidden by the long hairs that clothe the body. 
The antennas of the butterfly are hollow, 
and have a great many joints. There are two 
of these antennae; and they get thicker towards 
the tip, and end in a little knob or club, which 
is of a different shape in different species. 
It would be impossible to describe the endless 
variety of butterflies that flit about us in the 
summer. Our gardens, meadows, woods, and 
lanes, are gay with them, and we hardly know 
which most to admire. 
* Thorax is the scientific term. 
