NATURAL HISTORY. “5 
Points, now become diftin& and moft beautiful ornaments. Nor are 
—€ wings, when they are thus expanded, unfolded in the manner in 
: ich earwigs and grafshoppers difplay theirs, who unfurl them like a 
a@dy’s fan: on the contrary, thofe of butterflies actually grow to their 
Natural fize in this very fhort fpace. The wing, at the inftant it is freed 
Tom its late confinement, is confiderably thicker than afterwards; fo 
at it fpreads in all its dimenfions, growing thinner as it becomes 
2oader. If one of the wings be plucked from the animal juft fet free, 
* may be fpread by the fingers, and it will foon become as broad as 
the other, which has been left behind. As the wings extend them- 
tlves fo fuddenly, they have not yet had time to dry; and accordingly 
pbPear like pieces of wet paper, foft, and full of wrinkles. In about 
Nalf an hour, they are perfeétly dry, their wrinkles entirely difappear, 
nd the little animal aflumes all its {plendour. ‘The tranfmutation be- 
Ng thus perfectly finifhed, the butterfly difcharges three or four drops 
a blood-coloured liquid, which are the la remains of its fuperfluous 
Moifture. Thofe aurelias which are enclofed within a cone, find their 
®tit more difficult, as they have ftill another prifon to break through : 
is, however, they perform in a fhort time; for the butterfly, freed 
‘tom its aurelia fkin, butts with its head violently againft the walls of 
*s artificial prifon; and probably with its eyes, that are rough and like 
4 file, it rubs the internal furface away ; till it is at laft feen buring 
488 way into open light; and, in lefs than a quarter of an hour, the 
imal acquires its full perfection. ; 
hus, to ufe the words of Swammerdam, we fee a little infignifi- 
*ant creature diftinguifhed, in its laft birth, with qualifications and or- 
tments, which man, during his ftay upon earth, can never even hope 
& acquire. ‘The butterfly, to-enjoy life, needs no other food but the 
Ss of Heaven; and the honeyed juices which are diftilled from every 
et The pageantry of princes cannot equal the ornaments with 
eich it is invefted ; nor the rich colouring that embellifhes its wings. 
Re  tkies are the butterfly’s proper habitation, and the air its element: 
phil man comes into the world naked, and often roves about without 
bitation or fhelter; expofed, on one hand, to the heat of the fun; 
ae on the other, to the damps-and exhalations of the earth; both 
tke enemies of his happinefs and exiftence.—A ftrong proof that, 
hile this little animal is raifed to its greatef height, we are as yet, in 
'S world, only candidates for perfection! : 
i a3 : : : 
@ts sand we have exhibited the various circumftances of that furprifing 
change, It has been remarked, that butterflies may be eafily diftin- 
8Uithed from flies of every other kind, by their wings; for, in others, 
*Y are either tranfparent, like gauze, as we fee in the common fleth 
3 or they are hard and crufted, as we fee the wings of the beetle. 
Ut in the butterfly, the wings are foft, opake, and painted over with 
Sautiful duft, that comes off with handling. 
ak number of thefe beautiful animals is very great; and though 
the zUs has reckoned up above feven hundred and fixty different kinds, 
rik pralogue is ftill very incomplete. Every collector of butterflies 
ew 
undefcribed {pecies : and fuch as are fond of minute difcovery, 
ere produce animals that have been examined only by himielf, 
Seneral, however, thofe of the warm climates, are larger and more 
oar se beautiful 
an h 
t has been already {hewn that all Butterflies are bred from caterpil- 
