and final], extend themfelves, are ftrengthened and hardened in-
fenfibly, and the fibres which were at firft flexible become hard
and ftiff; even fo ftifF, that Malphigi confidered them as bones :
in proportion as thefe fibres harden, the fluid which circulates,
within them, and extends the wings, lofes it’s force; fo that if
any extraneous circumftance prevents the motion o f this fluid, at
the firft inftant o f the moth’s efcape from it’s former ftate,
the wing will then become ill-lhaped; often expanding with
fuch rapidity, that the naked eye cannot trace it’s unfold ng.
The wing, which was fcarce half the length o f the body, acquires
in a few minutes it’s full fize, ft) as to be nearly five times as large
as they were before : nor is it the wings only which are thus in-
creafed ; all their fpots and colours, heretofore fo minute as to be
fcarce difcernible, are proportionally extended, fo that what before
appeared as only fo many unmeaning and confided points,
become diftinft and beautiful ornaments; and thofe that are
fumifhed with a tongue, or trunk, curl and-coil it up.
When the wings are unfolded, the tongue rolled up, the
moth fufficiently dried, and the different members ftrengthened,
it takes it’s flight. Moft of them, foon after they have attained
their perfeft ftate, void an excrementitious fubftance, which
M. de Reaumur thinks is the laft time o f their doing i t ; that they
re;eft very little, i f any, during the reft o f their li ves.
I f the moth is opened down the belly, and the fatty parts
which fill it are removed, the grofs artery, which has been called
the heart, will be vifible, and the contraftions and dilations, by
which it pufhes forwards the liquor it contains, may be eafily ob-
ferved. One o f the moft remarkable circumftances is, that the
6 circulacirculation
of this fluid in the moth is direftjy contrary to that
which took place in the caterpillar; in this the liquor moved
from the tail to the head, whereas in the moth it moves from the
head to the tail; fo that the fluid which anfwers the purpofes o f
the blood in tire moth, goes from the fuperior towards the inferior
parts; but in the voracious fenfijal caterpillar the order is
inverted, it proceeds from the inferior towards the fuperior
parts.
The food o f the caterpillar is grofs and folid, and even this it
is obliged to earn with much labour and danger; but when
freed as it were from the jaws of death, and arrived at it’s perfeft
form, the pureft neftar is it’s portion, and the air it’s element. It
was fupplied with coarfe food, in the firft ftate, by the painful
operation of it’s teeth, which was afterwards digefted by a violent
trituration o f the ftomach. The inteftines- are now formed in a
more delicate manner,, and fuited to a more pure and elegant
aliment, which nature has prepared for it’s ufe, from the moft
fragrant and beautiful flowers. Many internal parts o f the caterpillar
difappear in the chryfalis, and many that could not be
perceived before are now rendered, vifible 1 the interior changes
are not lefs furprizing than thofe o f the exterior form, and are,,
properly fpeaking, creative o f them; for it is from theffe the
exterior form originates, and to thefe it always correfponds. In
a word, the creature that heretofore crept upon the earth, now
flies freely through the a ir ; and far from creating our averfion by
it’s frightful prickles and foul appearance, it attracts our notice
by the moft elegant fhape and cloathing.*
Yon
■
* Swammerdam’s Book of Nature, p. io.