Note 5 — CHAP. II. OF THE EGGS, LARVÆ, AND PUPÆ OF ANTS.

What a world of wonders is there not opened to our view, in the transformations the insect tribe undergo, from the period of their birth, to the full and complete development of their several organs. Unless well assured of the fact, how could we imagine the feeble helpless worm just described would ever become the industrious, enterprising ant, furnished with organs of motion and of flight. How devoid of probability would appear the statement, did we not possess evidence to the contrary, that the magnificent butterfly we see hovering from flower to flower, ever drew its origin from the creeping caterpillar. But these changes, surprising as they are, are yet equalled by other circumstances connected with the metamorphoses of insects, for with these changes in appearance, the animal alters its habits and mode of life. The butterfly in its first or larva state of existence eats voraciously, and in a manner greatly disproportioned to its size, devouring twice its weight of leaves in a day; in its second or pupa state, this inordinate appetite ceases, and all its active powers are suspended; in its third, imago, or perfect state, no longer bound to the spot that gave it birth, it takes a wider range, cleaves the regions of the air, and sips the nectar of flowers. That beautiful silver-winged insect (Libellula) now crossing our path, passed the first part of its existence as a water insect, and that little creature (Ephemera) we see sporting in the sun-beam, whose existence as a winged insect is limited only to a few hours, and seemingly with no other view than that of continuing its kind, has also passed the first period of its life in the same element. The common gnat, that so much annoys us in our evening walks, was originally an inhabitant of some stagnant pool. The beetle that flits along at even-tide, lay in a worm-like state for a considerable period, locked up in the caverned chambers of the earth, and—but why proceed, when the whole insect tribe, generally speaking, undergo such developements.—T.