Another well known insect is illustrated in the figure in the upper
portion--the peacock butterfly (Vanessa Io). The curious spiked and
spotted caterpillar feeds upon the common nettle. This beautiful
butterfly--common in most districts--is brilliantly colored and
figured on the upper side of the wings, but only of a mottled brown on
the under surface, somewhat resembling a dried and brown leaf, so that
it is no easy matter to detect the conspicuous, brightly-decked insect
when it alights from flight upon foliage, and brings its wings
together over its back after the manner of butterflies. At the
left-hand corner is seen the head of the insect, magnified, showing
the long spiral tongue.
This is a curious structure, and one that will repay the trouble of
microscopic examination. In the figure the profile is seen, the large
compound eye at the side and the long curved tongue, so
elephantine-looking in form, though of minute size, is seen unrolled
as it is when about to be inserted into flowers to pump up the
honey-juice. This little piece of insect apparatus is a mass of
muscles and sensitive nerves comprising a machine of greater
complexity and of no less precision in its action than the modern
printing machine. When not in use, the tongue rolls into a spiral and
disappears under the head. A butterfly's tongue may readily be
unrolled by carefully inserting a pin within the first spiral and
gently drawing it out.--_The Gardeners' Chronicle._
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