MOTHS fly, some by Day-Light, some by Twilight, and some in the Dead of Night.
N. B. There is a Species of Fly betwixt the Moth and the Butterfly, whose Horns are more flat and hollow; this is describ’d in the second Book of this Work, by the Name of the Burnet.
Concerning the Food of the Fly.
The Food of these Creatures in the Fly State, is very different from what it was when they were Caterpillars: Butterflies feed on all Kinds of Flowers, and on several sorts of Fruits, and I have seen them extremely fond of the Juices that issue from the Bodies of several Sorts of Trees.
MOTHS feed on the same Things, as also on the Honey-Dew that is found on the Leaves of Limes, Elms, &c. The Moths, as well as the Butterflies, are furnished with a long Proboscis, or Tongue, which lies curl’d up like a Watch-Spring, under the fore Part of the Head. The Length of this Proboscis varies according to the Species of the Fly, and is from half an Inch, to four Inches long.
The Enemies of Moths and Butterflies.
Nature has been so abundant in the Production of these Creatures, that were it not for the many Dangers they are exposed to, through every Stage of their Lives, the whole World would be too small to contain their Offspring, in four or five Years; for, upon Calculation, the Progeny of one Pair of large Butterflies, (supposing them to lay only 100 Eggs, whereas many of them lay 2 or 300, and that twice a Year) would be sufficient to cover the whole Kingdom of England in about twelve Years.
While in the Egg, they are devoured in great Numbers by Birds and other Animals.
Whilst Caterpillars, they are a Prey to small Birds of all Kinds, being almost the only Food wherewith such Birds nourish and rear their young ones.
CATERPILLARS likewise kill and devour one another; and, besides that, Numbers of them die in shifting their Skins, and in changing into the Chrysalis State. But the greatest Enemy they have in this State, is the Ichneumon Fly.