less so is their structure when perfected, and of this some general
description must now be attempted.

In contemplating a butterfly, one feels that the mind is first engaged by
that ample spread, and exquisite painting of the wings that form the
creature's glory; let therefore these remarkable organs have our first
attention.

Wherein do these wings chiefly differ from all other insect wings?
Certainly in being covered thickly with a variously coloured powdery
material, easily removed by handling. This apparent dust is composed, in
reality, of a vast number of regularly and beautifully formed
_scales_--feathers they are sometimes called, but they are more comparable
to fish scales than to any other kind of natural covering. The general term
_Lepidoptera_, applied to _all_ butterflies and moths, is derived from
these _scaly-wings_; _Lepis_[2] being the Greek for a _scale_, and _ptera_
meaning _wings_ in the same language.

The use of a tolerably powerful pocket lens will afford _some_ insight into
the exquisite mode of painting

{21} employed in these matchless pieces of decoration; but the possessor of
a regular microscope may, by applying it to some of our commonest
butterflies, open for himself a world of beauty, and feast his eyes on a
combination of refined sculpture with splendour of colouring; now melting
in softest harmony, then relieved by boldest contrast--a spectacle, the
first sight of which seldom fails to call forth expressions of wonderment
and warm delight; and, truly, little to be envied is the mind untouched by
such utter beauty as here displayed.

As an example of the method by which this admirable effect is produced, let
us take a small portion of the wing of the Peacock, a very beautiful,
though an abundant species, and one admirably adapted for microscopic
examination, and to illustrate the subject, from the great variety of rich
tints brought together in a small space, the part selected being the
eye-like spot at the outer corner of each upper wing. Even to the naked eye
this appears as a very splendidly coloured object, yet but little of its
exquisite mechanism can be discovered by the unassisted organ. Something
more is brought out by a moderately strong lens: we then see the colours
disposed in rows, reminding us of the surface of Brussels carpet, or of
certain kinds of tapestry work.

Now let us place the wing on the stage of a good microscope, with the root
of the wing pointing toward