The Butterfly Book. W. J. Holland

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ 220 XXVIII. Libythea, Lemonias, Calephelis, Eumæus, Chrysophanus, Feniseca 228 XXIX. Chrysophanus, Thecla 236 XXX. Thecla, Lycæna 246 XXXI. Lycæna 256 XXXII. Lycæna, Thecla, Nathalis, Euchloë 266 XXXIII. Catopsilia, Pyrameis 272 XXXIV. Euchloë, Neophasia, Pieris, Kricogonia 280 XXXV. Tachyris, Pieris, Colias 288 XXXVI. Meganostoma, Colias 294 XXXVII. Terias, Dismorphia 298 XXXVIII. Papilio 302 XXXIX. Parnassius 306 XL. Papilio 310 XLI. Papilio 314 XLII. Papilio 316 XLIII. Papilio, Colias, Pyrameis, Epargyreus 318 XLIV. Papilio 323 XLV. Papilio, Pholisora, Eudamus, Achalarus, Pyrrhopyge, Plestia, Calpodes, Thanao 330 XLVI. Hesperiidæ 338 XLVII. Hesperiidæ 350 XLVIII. Hesperiidæ and Colias eurytheme 360

INTRODUCTION

       Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

       Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

       Table of Contents

THE LIFE-HISTORY AND ANATOMY OF BUTTERFLIES

       Table of Contents

      "The study of butterflies—creatures selected as the types of airiness and frivolity—instead of being despised, will some day be valued as one of the most important branches of biological science."—Bates, Naturalist on the Amazons.

      In studying any subject, it is always well, if possible, to commence at the beginning; and in studying the life of animals, or of a group of animals, we should endeavor to obtain a clear idea at the outset of the manner in which they are developed. It is a familiar saying that "all life is from an egg." This statement is scientifically true in wide fields which come under the eye of the naturalist, and butterflies are no exception to the rule.

      THE EGGS OF BUTTERFLIES

       Fig. 1.—Egg of Basilarchia disippus, magnified 30 diameters (Riley).

       Fig. 2.—Egg of Basilarchia disippus, natural size, at the end of under surface of leaf (Riley).

       Fig. 3.—Egg of Papilio turnus, greatly magnified.

The eggs of butterflies consist of a membranous shell containing a fluid mass composed of the germ of the future caterpillar and the liquid food which is necessary for its maintenance and development until it escapes from the shell. The forms of these eggs are various. Some are spherical, others hemispherical, conical, and cylindrical. Some are barrel-shaped; others have the shape of a cheese, and still others have the form of a turban. Many of them are angled, some depressed at the ends. Their surface is variously ornamented. Sometimes they are ribbed, the ribs running from the center outwardly and downwardly along the sides like the meridian lines upon a globe. Between these ribs there is frequently found a fine network of raised lines variously arranged. Sometimes the surface is covered with minute depressions, sometimes with a series of minute elevations variously disposed. As there is great variety in the form of the eggs, so also there is great variety in their color. Brown, СКАЧАТЬ