Benjamin Wilkes

“ The SMALL GREEN OAK MOTH. The Caterpillar feeds on the Oak, and sometimes such Numbers of them are produced at the Beginning of May, that they, in a Manner, strip the Oak-trees of their Leaves. They are enabled, by the Help of a Spining, which they fasten after the Manner of the Spider, to let themselves down from one Bough to another, and from thence to the Ground, if they have a mind. They change into the Chrysalis State in a curled Form within the Oak-leaves, (which they wrap over them, and fasten together by their Web) and, after remaining so for about fourteen Days, the Fly is bred. ”

“ The worthy Members of the Aurelian Society, and several other ingenious Gentlemen, have been so sensible of this, that they, from Time to Time, have thought proper to bestow some Name on every Species that has come within their Knowledge. ”

“ THE EMPEROR-MOTH. The best Way to be furnished with this fine Moth is, to breed it from the Caterpillar, which may be found in its infant State during the Month of May; but it is most adviseable to seek for them before the 20th. The Caterpillars, [16] when newly hatch’d, are sociable, and keep together for about three Weeks, after which Time they separate and are difficult to be found. The most certain Food to take them on is the Black Thorn, and of that such as is not of above two or three Years Growth. ”

“ The POPLAR HAWK MOTH. The Caterpillar of this Moth feeds on the Leaves of the Poplar Tree, as also on the Willow, and is to be found at the same Times and Places as the Willow-Hawk Caterpillar. It becomes a Chrysalis in the Ground in September, and the Moth appears in May. It is to be found in the Chrysalis and Fly-state as the before mentioned. All the Hawk-tribe fly very swiftly, and I am inclined to believe feed in wet marshy Places, by reason I have never taken them on the Wing in Places where I have always met with Plenty of other Moths. ”

“ Some Caterpillars form a hard-crusted Case, composed of silk Threads glewed together, in such Manner as to become hard like an Egg-shell, so that when the Fly comes out, a round Hole like a Door appears. ”

“ The GREAT ARGUS-BUTTERFLY breeds twice a Year: The first Time is in May, the second in July. Merian says, the Caterpillar feeds on Grass, and that it changes to a small green Chrysalis, from which proceeds this elegant Fly, adorned with brown and black Spots, having two white Horns spotted with black, and Eyes of a beautiful Colour. This Butterfly is very common; its Flight is not swift: It delights to settle on dry Banks and Walls, and in Path-Ways, and is not difficult to take. Its Caterpillar is seldom found. ”

“ Names are absolutely necessary to distinguish one Fly from another, and enable the Curious in this Study to communicate any Observations they may make; which, without giving Names to the Flies, would be very difficult, if even possible to be done; as they must be greatly at a Loss to make others perfectly understand what Flies they are treating of. ”

“ In this Fly State their first Care seems to be the Propagation of their Species, for some of them will copulate immediately if they can find a Mate; to seek which the Male Butterfly takes Wing, as soon as his Wings are in a proper Condition: But few Moths, whether bred in the Night Time or in the Day, ever offer to fly till the Night after their Birth, when they go in Search of the Females. ”

“ The Males (of some Species) have a surprizing Quickness and Distinction in their Sense of Smelling, exceeding that of the Blood-Hound, or any other Creature yet known; for if a Female be concealed in a Box, and there are any Males within half a Mile or more, they will fly directly to the Place, and hover round it. ”

“ The Institution of Your Society for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, must render it not improper to lay before You every Attempt towards such Improvement. On the contrary, You have a sort of Right to expect, that every Author in Natural History, should submit his Labours to Your Examination, and think himself happy if they will stand the Test of Your Judgment. ”

“ As to the Plants, Flowers, and Fruits, he declares himself under the highest Obligation to a most curious Naturalist, and worthy Member of the Royal Society of London, whose costly and valuable Collection is known to the learned World, and esteemed as it deserves. ”

“ Little, perhaps, is wanting to make the Study of Nature universally pursued, than to render it easy and intelligible; for, surely, the Understanding God has given us, can never be more properly employed, than in examining and considering those Proofs of his Divine Goodness and Power, which are placed every where around us. ”

“ The Division of the Work into Books and Chapters may need some Explanation, since under some of the Divisions very few, or even but one single Fly is placed; the Reason whereof is, that the Plan here laid down is intended for the Arranging of all the Moths and Butterflies, whose Progression is known at present, or shall hereafter be discovered in England; of which, as the Flies here given are but a small Part, this must be considered but as an Out-line to be filled up occasionally. ”

“ The Females (especially of the Moth Kinds) seldom, if ever, take Wing till they have been cocked: they often continue in Conjunction twelve Hours and more, after which the Female lays her Eggs, flies about for a Time, and then dies.—The Females of some Kinds are without Wings. ”