Of the Eggs.
The Eggs are of various Forms; some are round, some are oval, and many of the Moth-Kind flat, and perforated through the Middle; so that the Embrios or Caterpillars lie curl’d up before they are hatch’d, as they frequently do afterwards when come to Maturity. They are found of all manner of Colours, and many of them are extremely beautiful if view’d with a Microscope; some being curiously rib’d and adorn’d with Protuberances, &c. like the nicest carved Work; others marbled and spotted with an amazing Variety of delightful colouring.
Of Caterpillars.
Caterpillars are usually divided into the Naked and Cloathed Kinds. Among the Cloath’d some have only small Tufts of Hair or Down, others are cover’d all over with it.
The Caterpillars of all known Butterflies have six Hooks or Claws before, eight Feet in the Middle of their Body, and two Holders behind. Those that produce Moths have all six Hooks or Claws before, and Holders behind. Some have eight Feet in the Middle, some four, and some only two next their Holders.
Some Species of Caterpillars always feed inclos’d or spun up in the Leaves they feed upon, others take their Food openly and in Sight.
Some are sociable and herd together whilst young, but when they change their third Skin they grow unsociable and feed separately.
Others are born unsociable, and feed separately from their Infancy.
Some Species spin a large Web that will contain an hundred Caterpillars, or more, from which they never go far till they have eat up all the Leaves that are near thereto: Then they spin a new Web, and so (shifting their Quarters) in a short Time, instead of the green Leaves that they have devoured, leave the Tree, or Bush, covered only with their white Webs.
Some Sorts, when disturbed, let themselves down by a Thread like a Spider, by which Means they avoid being devoured by other Insects that have not the Means of following them, &c.