The history of four-footed beasts and serpents describing at large their true and lively figure, their several names, conditions, kinds, virtues ... countries of their breed, their love and hatred to mankind, and the wonderful work by Edward Topsell ; whereunto is now added, The theater of insects, or, Lesser living creatures ... by T. Muffet ...

CHAP. XIV.

Of Butterflies.

THE Butterfly is called of the Greeks, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; but the more general name is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Latines, Papilio, Ardoynus calleth it Cam∣pilo; Isidore, Avicula; the Italians, Farfalla; the French, Papillon, Papilion; the Spaniards, Mari∣posa; the Polonians, Motill; the Hungarian, Lovoldeck; the Illyrian, Pupiela, Meteyl, Motyl; the Germans, Pifnet, Mulk, Pfyfholter, Summervnegel, Zweifalter; the Flandrians, Ʋleghebronfus, Bo∣tershyte; the Brabanters, Capelleken, Ʋlindere, Pellerin, Boter Ʋlieghe; the English, Butterfly.

The Butterfly is a volatile Insect, having four wings, not two (as Constantinus Friburgensis * 1.1 dreamed) six feet, two eyes standing forth of his head, and two lither Cornicles growing forth from before his eyes: the Butterfly hath a two forked beak or bill, and within those forks is couched another little bill or beak, with which they suck in; some the day dew, others the night. They couple sometime with their tails averse, sometimes reflex; and continue long in the act of * 1.2 Copulation. They lay and fasten their Eggs, not little worms (as Arist. imagined) on the top and under the leaves, some great, some small, yellow, blew, blackish, white, green, some lesser then Millet seed, some twice as big, others just as big; according to the colour and natural mag∣nitude of each Butterfly. These eggs being laid in a warm place, or being cherished and caused to grow in the day time with the heat of the Suns beams, shoot forth a Palmer or canker-worm, at the first all of one and the same colour with them, but afterwards, as they grow bigger they change their colour. Out of some eggs the Caterpillars appear at four daies end, others do not hatch before fourteen daies, which by little and little get strength and fly, but weakly; yea some of them being kept from the injuries of cold and hard weather, endure all the winter, as experience doth sufficiently confirm in the Silk-worm. After copulation all the Butterflies do not presently die but live in a languishing condition, till winter, and some to the winter solstice; the lesser and weaker sort of them are very short lived; the more strong and hardy continue longer; they ap∣pear in the Spring time, out of the Canker-worms, Aureliae, growing by the heat of the Sun, and by the temper of the air being in stead of a Midwi••e to them, they are brought forth. The com∣ing of them is for the most part a sign of the Spring coming on, but yet not alwaies, nor in all places. For although they be very weak and not long lived; yet while we were writing, thus (saith Pliny) it was observed that their issue was thrice destroyed by cold weather coming again: and strange Birds about the 6. of the Kalends of February gave notice of the Springs approach; but a while after with a cruel bitter winter weather that succeeded, they were all destroyed. We ought not to wonder that those foolish Icarian Astrologers having no ground for what they say, do tell us that which is false; whereas it doth appear by this, that Nature her self is inconstant; and we being more addicted to second causes than we should, and being unmindful of the first Mover, are deceived by her. Pennius reports of two swarms of Butterflies in one Autumn. Now although. I do not deny with long and sharp frosts they may all die, yet they are able to endure moderate cold, and do live in warm places even in very cold seasons. For how commonly are they found in houses sleeping all the Winter like Serpents and Bears, in windowes, in chinks and corners? where if the Spider do not chance to light on them, they live till the Spring.

Arist. saith that they all take their colour from the worm they are bred of: but yet (if

this be granted) they have other colours besides, as will appear in their particular Descriptions and Histories.

They most abound in the time of Mallowes blowing, out of whose flowers when they have thrust in their snout or proboscis, they suck a sweet juice with whichthey refresh their bodies. Co∣lumella in his Book de Nat. rerum l. 9. c. 11. speaketh of the Butterflies thus coupling, and begin∣ning on this manner: The Butterflies couple after August; after they have coupled the male straight-way dies: out of their dung come forth worms. But all these things are so horribly strange that they have no shew of truth. For their chief time of coupling is in May and July: neither doth any Male of them die immediately after copulation; unless it be of that kinde of Butterflies of which those Caterpillars come which are called Silk-worms. To conclude, those things he supposeth to be dung, are indeed eggs: out of which come not worms, but a great many little Cankers, out of whose cases come Butterflies.

There are so many kindes of Butterflies as there are of the Cankerworms: out of whose Au∣reliae * 1.3 they proceed. They differ generally in that some fly abroad, especially by night, these are called Phalenae. Others only by day, which are called therefore, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Day∣flies. The name Phalaina is a Rhodian and Cyprian word; for so they (as Nicander the Scholiast witnesseth) call that creature which flies to the candle, viz. (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) Turnebus out of Nicolaus and Lycophron, will have 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to be taken for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: of whom, because with the motion and force of its wings it oftentimes puts out the candles, is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the roughnesse, and the bran and meal which seems to be spread upon it, it is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And because some of them are so far taken with the love of the light, that they burn themselves with the flame, they are called Pyraustae. There are those that interpret this Phalaina to be the Cicindela or Glow-worm, but not rightly; forasmuch as the Glow-worm never desires the can∣dle at all, but delights generally and chiefly in a dark night. The Germans call it ein Leight m' ucken, ein Leight flugen; the Helvetians, Flatterschen; the Italians, Farfalla, Paviglione, and Po∣veia; our North, as also the West countreymen, call it Saule, i. e. Psychen, Animam, the soul; because some silly people in old time did fancy that the souls of the dead did fly about in the night seeking light. Nicander describes a Phalaina thus: which Hieremias Martius interprets thus:

Consider what strange beasts rude Memphis breeds; One like a flying worm; by candle light; Wherein he playes as if he took delight: Driven from meats, whereon at night he feeds. His wings are narrow, of pale hue, not green, But more like ash-coloured to be seen.

From these things therefore we may gather this description of the Phalena, that it is a kinde of Butterfly flying in the night, most desirous of enjoying the light; from whence it takes its name, of a body rough, its wings powdered or sprinkled as it were with a fine kinde of ashes or dust; lying hid all the day time under leaves, or in some obscure place of recesse, in the night flying about the candles, and by its too much desire of them re∣ducing it self into ashes: seldome or never it flies but with the wings standing upright on the back, as on the contrary the day Flies keep their wings even with their body. Horns they have for the most part, either rough and large, or very little and short: but the day Flies more long and tuberous in the extremity of them. The Phalenae come out of the shels of the Canker-worm covered with earth. The day Flies from their Aureliae, either hanging upon or sticking unto the boughs of trees. They are for the most part rough, and as it were dusty, flying in the dark, very tender; these on the other side flying in the day light, are more plain, smooth, even, and have no dust upon them. They fly seldome in the day but toward the close of the evening, lest the dust that is upon them being dry∣ed by the heat of the Sun and drowth should shake off, being never used to be wet with rain. But these are not able to fly by night, lest the night dew should wet them quite through, and hinder both their flight and their health: wherefore in rainy weather and all night they shrowd themselves under the leaves, and never fly abroad but in clear and fair weather. The Pha∣lenae are no lesse affected with the candle than these with the day-light: wherefore these rejoyce at the day-star, that is to say, the Sun; but those at the night-star, to wit, the Moon, and Stars, and candle-light, resembling somewhat the nature, splendor, and glimmering light of the Stars.

The Phalenae are all either very big or very little. The bigger sort of them have their bel∣ly and also the inside of their wings altogether of a sandy colour. The eyes seem blue, the head blackish; between the eyes come out▪ two dusky coloured horns, Eagle coloured, with black crosse lines wreathed like a rope. Upon the shoulders there is a kinde of san∣dy dusky coloured roll or welt: from whence a black crosse spot is drawn to the end of the shoulders. The body if you look on the backside, is of a bright blue or azure, if on the belly, it is of a sandy colour. The two outmost wings are very large and Eagle-coloured, finely set with spots and white circles, the innermost are far lesse and yellowish, adorned in the inside with certain dusky streaks and spots; it hath thighs brawny and strong, all of a dusky colour, and at the end forked and black. It flies with a great noise, and being blinde

in the night, what ever glistering there

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be arising of rotten wood, scales of fish, or the like, it greedily followes. As great Tyrants devour and spoil their subjects, so those night-walking Butterflies batter with their wings and destroy those that fly by day, being by night lodged under leaves.

The second Phalenae of the first mag∣nitude, as it is somewhat lesse in bulk of body than the former, so it far ex∣cels it in the gloss and splendor of co∣lours: as if Nature in adorning of this had spent her whole painters shop; and had intended the former for the King of Butterflies, that is to say, strong, valiant, blackish, freckled: and this for the Queen, delicate, tender, fine, all beset with pearls and precious stones, and priding it self in embroi∣dery and needle-work: her body downy like Geese, something smooth and hairy, like Martens or Sable skins; the head little, great eyes standing out, two cornicles like feathers, of a yel∣low or boxie colour: she hath four great wings, every one of them ha∣ving eyes of divers colours, the ap∣ple whereof is black, the circle or roundle next to it of various co∣lours, with yellow, flame-like, white, and black coloured circles, and semi∣circles. The outer wings from their original to their extremities are whitish, beautified with certain lit∣tle veins and specks; the edges whereof are adorned with a welt or guard, and a hem of dunnish or dark yellow colour: the inner wings brown or tawny, having one eye apiece as the former, with a three-fold border, the first whereof is plain, the middlemost part gosing in and out like a scollop (both of a fie∣ry colour) the outmost of all of a pale white, and as it were sown on by some Skinner or Fur••••er; she goes upon strong, rough, brawny thighs, of the same colour with the rest of her body. This did Carolus Clusius send from Vi∣enna, of so elegant and notable figure, that it is easier to wonder at and admire, than with fit expressions to describe.

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The third sort hath a great body rough and blackish; each wing hath one eye, the sight or apple whereof is black, the roundle brown, the half circle white. There are divers pieces in the wings of a watry Amethyst colour, the edges of the wings at the first sight appear ash-colour, afterwards Eagle-colour. The head very short and little, putteth forth on either side a black eye, the apple whereof is of a notable whiteness, be∣tween those break forth two very small short horns of a dunnish colour. It is be∣gotten of a rough Canker-worm, not a smooth.

The fourth hath a great dark coloured head, out of which arise two streight cornicles somewhat black, the neck is adorned with vermilion specks, the brest rough, square, duskish, the shoulders coil black, the belly of Amethyst or purple colour, divided with five or six circles or rounds; the feet black as pitch, the wings of a light brown, full of long black little veins.

The fifth hath a white head, black eyes, the horns a little yellow, the outmost wings long, of a sad colour between white and brown, the innermost being lightly and as it were by the by coloured reddish, the shoulders very black, the rest of the body somewhat of a rose colour, bound about with seven black circles, a white line running all along the middle of the belly.

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The sixth hath head and shoulders

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rough, and the utmost wings drawn with bloud colour lines, are a white brown; the eyes of the head standing out, of a vio∣let or azure colour; the inner wings some-what of a carnation, represent the eye in the middle part, shining with the apple crow black, the circle about it purple; the bo∣dy like dried flesh, and a little smoak't, di∣vided with six roundles black and brown.

The seventh hath the outer wings white, with cer∣tain brown spots here and there as if it were watered Chamblet; the neck ring'd about as it were with a red skin reaching all down the shoulders like a Fryers cowle; the head is red, the eyes pearl colour, the horns flame colour; the innermost wings of a shining red speckled black; the feet red, the belly all of the same colour, with seven incisures or clifts of a deep red lead colour.

The eighth is almost all over brown, but the edges of the wings and the middle part of the horns are of yellow or box colour.

The ninth is almost like unto it, but that the edges of the wings are like black sand, it hath horns broad and bended, of a whity-brown colour, the middle of the outermost wings stopped with a round white spot.

The tenth is of a like bignesse, all over of a white brown, but that the middle of the outermost wings is marked with a white spot, and the eye with a very black apple.

The head of the eleventh is tuberous, the horns slender, the body like clay trodden; otherwise the wings are all of a dark silver colour.

The twelfth somewhat of an ash-colour, the wings spotted black, the eyes black, the apple white.

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The thirteenth hath very little or no horns at all, the body all over yellow, except the eyes (which are little and black) and the wings which are whitish.

The fourteenth appears of colour various, it hath black tuberous horns; as also the eyes and feet; the shoulders are drest with five white plumes as it were, of which the two middlemost have three black specks; the wings snow white, bespeckled here and there with black, yellow and blew specks; the body russet, ar∣ticulate or jointed, the sides whitish, she puts her tail in or out as she pleaseth, it is sharp, yellowish, jointed; all the body as it were sprinkled with dust; otherwise in regard of the tuberous cornicles it had come in the number of the day Butterflies. It layeth abun∣dance of yellowish eggs, in the laying whereof she puts forth a little tail, which she puls in again at plea∣sure.

The fifteenth hath two black slender cornicles, the head and shoulders hairy, of a dun colour, the neck adorned with a collar of Vermilion, the shanks red∣dish; the outmost wings chamoletted with white and dun, the innermost are exactly red spotted with black spots; the body of a light vermilion, rounded about with six black guards, or welts.

The sixteenth seems to be very rare: if you look upon it as it lies on its back, it seems to be all over of a murry colour; if as it lies, green and yellow; it hath five very red lines or streaks drawn along the shoulders; as also seven spots set quite through the middle of the back, do adorn the rest of the body: the wings also tra∣verst with murry spots or shadows rather, the beginning whereof from the head to the bottom of the breast is terminated with a line of whitish or silver colour.

The seventeenth, when it goes upon its feet and its wings close to its body, looketh dun; but when it fli∣eth with the wings stretcht forth, the innermost wines are carnation set about the edges, with a blackish list or border: it hath very long cornicles, and the pro∣muscis or snour doubled in or rolled up together: the gray shoulders are marked with round sand colour spots; the side also, and all the joynts of the body are set and edged about with hoary hairs.

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The eighteenth being very rare indeed, was sent me by Clusius. The hornes whereof pide colour, the head black as pitch, the nose crooked, the cir∣cle of the eye white, the neck scarlet or crimson; the shoulders being rough of hairy, are covered as it were with a sable mantle; the outer wings deck∣ed with a white and black hem; the innermost red speckled here and there with black spots; the bo∣dy black, as likewise the feet; but the sides of the body are set out on each side with seven bloud-colour spots.

Like unto this there was another sent, but with the cornicles altogether crow colour; and on the middle of the shoulders dressed with a pure white list, as it were with a string of pearl.

Of all these the bodies seem to be of a great big∣nesse.

Now we shall addresse our discourse to the middle sort of Phalenae.

The first of which is white all over, but only that the outer wings are bedawbed with certain black spots & freckles; and the innermost with very red specks and pimples white in the midst; the eyes ve∣ry black, the feet and horns yellowish; in stead of a nose there comes forth a rough hair or bristle, the which is wound round up toge∣ther like a roll.

The second, the whole body rough or hairy, and of a light red; and so are the outer wings, were it not for whitish spots, and hems that go about, and yellow little eyes in them; the cornicles being yellow, are marked with black spots; the inner wings are of the colour of the marygold, but adorned with eyes and hems like the former.

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The third hath four white wings; the outer wings overcast with little blew veins here and there plenti∣fully, and two round blackish spots in the middle; the line that is about the wings is yellow, and the cornicles of the same; the head and body black, the eyes exceeding white, the sides of the shoulders are marked with four very white oblique lines on each side.

The fourth hath broad horns of crane colour, the body black, the sides gray, the wings yellowish, all over besprinkled with black spots like dragons, broad at the top, and afterwards round; the edge of the wings like the Bats snagged, and as it were prickly, all over black, within six white specks; pearls being placed on each side do set it out.

The fifth is all over black, but that it hath pale reddish spots up∣on the wings.

The sixth hath the body and the corni∣cles black, the eyes white; the wings are black underneath, above trimmed with golden hair & spots; to which are joyned black studs, run through with asilver co∣loured threed: the outmost wings have a black border winding in and out, with gold laid underneath, and as it were wrought in and out with a needle.

The seventh broad horned, the black body waxing hoary; I know not whether I may count it for a discredit or a grace to it. The beginning of the wings are red, the rest yellowish, but each part embossed with black square spots and a golden threed running along the edges.

The eighth hath four cornicles spreading wide, of ash-colour, two of them very long and larger in the borders; the body like the former, the wings of a pale ash-colour, chequered with black, and painted every where about the edges with drops of the same colour.

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The ninth, the head, eyes, cornicles, body, and innermost wings do represent the golden ocre; the shoulders and outmost wings are black, but only for a black border, having on each side of it an ash-colour line.

The tenth hath its body yellow, bedropt with black from the neck to to the tail, both back and sides; the eyes, cornicles, and feet perfect black, the outermost wings white, but garnisht with borders of yellow, black small studs, and spots likewise.

The eleventh if you look on the wings, it is snow or milk white, but only that it is all to bespeckled with little black spots; the shoulders also are white and downy; the body and back yel∣low, and joynted, having eight little black spots; the eyes big and standing out of the head, between which sprout out two black and hairy cornicles. In the night time she flies about the mea∣dowes and pastures.

The twelfth hath its wings so long that it can scarse fly; it hath very short cornicles, little very black small eyes, all the bo∣dy else is white, being here and there sprinkled with certain yel∣low veins and hairs.

The thirteenth (except its black eyes) is of a Crane-colour, somewhat blackish; the cornicles more than ordinary long, the body rough and hairy, the wings of the same colour with the bo∣dy, but about the edges glistering with a greenish, glassie varnish.

The fourteenth is a very rare one, though all over almost of a sand-colour; it hath cornicles for the bignesse of the body, strong, black, and crooked like the oxe, the eyes great and black, the head short, the neck thick; the outermost wings adorned with certain black studs; the ridge of the back is drest up as it were with five black heads of Gilliflowers, three forked.

The fifteenth hath its wings of a pale ash-colour all over, amongst all the rest it is destitute of cornicles, the eyes are some-what black; the back yellowish and set with five dusky coloured spots.

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The sixteenth seemeth to be of the same colour, but that it is streaked with black athwart the outermost wings: but this is every where of one colour (except the eyes which are black). It hath a long body, joynted, four long narrow wings, six feet, those behinde are twice as long as those before, it hath slender cornicles but growing out very far.

17. This comes of the Caterpillar of a Silk-worm, white all over but the eyes, which are blackish, and certain small yellowish veins running straight over the wings, and crosse the joynts of the body: I call it the Silk-worm Phalena. Of which more in the story of the Silk-worms.

The least sort of Phalenae.

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1. In the Classis of the least sort of all, we shall place one and the first ve∣ry admirable, going on four very black feet; it hath the outer wings azure, the innermost yellow, and the innermost (which is not usual) lesse then the outermost; the yellow body also is so big, that the wings can scarce cover it; the cornicles are full of little points, and the eyes all but the sight blackish; the head and the snout (being long, slender, and rolled up toge∣ther) are somewhat yellow.

2. The second appears blue and green, it hath a little body, the feet and cornicles blackish.

3. The third hath the shoulders and wings gree∣nish, of the colour of leek blades; the body dunnish; the outmost wings are guarded with a guard set with white and dun spots; it hath a very little head, the feet and the cornicles ash-colour.

Moreover there are found in houses a certain sort of little silver coloured Phalens, marked with black spots, which fly to the candles, called Mothes in English, which eat linnen and wool∣len clothes, and lay eggs, of which come Moths, and of the Moths again these Phalens; they are said to come first of all from rose leaves and other herbs putrefying.

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Three others I have observed in pastures and me∣dowes. The first whereof hath the outer wings black, each of them marked with 5 red spots like bloud, the innermost wings are all over red, the body dun, the head, short cornicles, and the feet blackish. The se∣cond is all alike, only that it hath but four red spots in the outmost wings, and hath a more slender body. The third is almost of the like shape too, but the cor∣nicles are a great deal longer, and the red spots seat∣tered after another manner; for there appear about the edges of the wings only two red bloud-like spots; but from the rising of the wings two spots drawn at length. And thus much may suffice to be spoken of the night Butterflies, or Phalens; passe we on now to the day But∣terflies.

The Day Butterflies are to be described after such a sort, that all men may see the fruitful∣nesse and elegancy of Nature in this behalf and admire. For she hath not lesse played her part, or wrought hard rather in the variety of these, their colours, attire, rich apparel, roundles, knots, studs, borders, squares, fringes, decking, painting, making them, then she had done in the Phalens.

1. The first Day-Butterfly being the greatest of all, for the most part all yellowish, those places and parts excepted which are here blacked with inke. Moreover, the roundles of the in∣ner wings are sky-colour, insomuch that you would think they were set with Saphire stones; the eyes are like the Chrysolite: the bignesse and form is so exactly set forth in the figure, that there needs no more to be said of it.

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2. The second dif∣fers very little from the first but in big∣nesse; it hath never∣thelesse, very black eyes & longer cor∣nicles, where you see the color white, there suppose it yel∣low, except it be those great eyes at the end of the in∣nermost wings, the apple whereof must be made flame-co∣lour, but the semi∣circle bloud-red.

3. The third not much unlike in co∣lour, but that the extuberances, and the outmost bor∣der of the inner∣most wings is sky or woad-colour; as also those three taches which you see painted under the hollow part of them.

4. The fourth may be said to be the Queen or chief of all, for in the uttermost part of the wings, as it were four Adamants glistering in a beazil of Hyacinth, do shew wonderful rich, yea almost da∣zle the Hyacinth and Adamant themselves; for they shine curiously like stars, and do cast about them sparks of the colour of the Rain-bow; by these marks it is so known, that it would be needless to describe the rest of the body though painted with variety of colours.

5. The head, feet, cornicles are of bloud-red, but the eyes purple, the back black and blue, the belly yellowish, the wings at the basis of a bright yellow, and afterwards more sad; the utmost parts of them being rusty colour, and waxing blackish with an unpleasing duskiness, are beautified with three little yellow spots; to the innermost being sprinkled with rusty colour, first two yellow, afterwards three pale yel∣low spots do stick. If you consider them with the face upwards, the upper wings are of a greenish yellow, marked with six or eight spots, the innermost of a light grasse-green, stained with two white spots; the belly and face yellowish; it comes out of a whitish Aurelia, spotted with little dark coloured spots.

6. The upper wings without are blackish, with a certain gard of a decayed red running through the midst; the extremities of them gli∣ster with white spots and specks like drops, being sharpned with dark coloured notches round about; but in the inside that guard doth shew of a more clear and full colour, and toward the bottome they seem blue; the undermost wings appear of one colour without, of another within, without they are all over sad coloured, except a reddish bor∣der, with a prickly purle very small and blackish, marked with four little points, and two diverse coloured opals placed together; within

they shew nothing like to this, but from a black and purle embroidery, they end in a sad fading red, the body is black, the eyes, horns, feet, all dusky and of the same colour.

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7. The whole body is black, yet in every in∣cision of the back, it hath two white spots; & wings between yel∣low and red, adorned with black and very white specks: but the bounti∣full Mother of all things, Dame Nature, hath chief∣ly beautified the borders of the wings, which have little teeth set like to saws at an equal distance one from the other, in the border whereof 20 blue studs pierced through with black lines, make a glorious shew.

8. Nature bred this with a chamblet mingled coloured coat, but it wants lively colours, for the wings are of a black reddish fading yellow and rus∣set colours, and it is more beautiful for its soft skin, than for its gallant apparel.

9. This is for the most part of an ash-colour, but if you look on the inside of the inmost wings, there is nothing that can better re∣present the wings of a Turky-cock; for the feathers that he flies withall, are covered by other feathers with scales; the eyes are black, as the horns are also, which are swoln like water-cats-tails.

10. The body is black, the shoulders are covered with yel∣low down, as is also the whole head; the horns are yellow also toward the head, which appears the sadder by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spot of a dark red; many round pearls set at just distances, do make the out∣ward'st rounded skirt of all the wings to be more graceful: but withinside they are ••o••led with very black 〈…〉〈…〉 like lintels. But as the part is less comely outwardly, so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 part of the inmost wings, shining with a whitish 〈…〉〈…〉 spots upon it, shines gallantly: and those spots that 〈…〉〈…〉twardly round pearls, seem inwardly pure 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉

11. It 〈…〉〈…〉 list of oriental Pearls 〈…〉〈…〉g in blue, the upper wi〈…〉〈…〉 ••eing of a fla∣ming yellow, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like fire paint∣ted with six mo•••• ••••ack guards, the root of the 〈…〉〈…〉 is black, then they shine from yellow to fiery colour; the body is downy with darkish hairs, and the horns and feet are of the same colour.

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12. It is wonderful beautiful, the wings are light bloud-colour, dipt with black spots, they shine with smal long beams dispersedly drawn like threds to the very outmost of the coat, and this is adorned within with golden crooked lines like the Moon, being it self a murry, nicked on the sides like a Saw: the bo∣dy is purple coloured from black, the eyes shine like gold, the feet and horns are black.

13. The body and wings appear black, upon the black wings, jagged in the circumference, first hairs grow, then borders, and lastly golden studs: also the small eyes in the black head are tinctured with gold, but the horns grow forth with spots white and black, and end with a small very black knob.

14. It much delighteth in the curiosity of the decking of it; the body is rough and blackish from white, a black eye, and a white pupilla, about the bald eye you shall see a circle almost white as snow, the horns are the same with the former, the outward face of the greater wing is known by the flaming colour, golden lines being drawn upon it, with four dinted skirts; about the end of it three round pence set triangular, do adorn it. But the in∣ward face of it seems most pleasant, with divers golden scales and studs put like a coat of male, and tyles of a house: also a golden line beautifies the utmost part of the wings. It represents a Peacock very much by its wings, and as that is, so hath it a proud and gallant body; the feet and legs are some-what black, (lest it should be proud of its feature) the snout is like a spiral line made up like a Maze.

15. This hath also a hairy beak wreathed up like a vine tendrel; it is inwardly ash-coloured, and outwardly a faint gray, the wings are prickly, jagged like bats wings, some dun lines do outwardly part these, inwardly six black studs do much set them forth.

The outward wings of all are a dark green in sight, which some spots and pieces of white and yellow do beautifie; the inward are perfectly red, being sprinkled with ten most black spots: the belly shines with eight yellow scales; the back is red inclining to yellow, and the tip of the tail is a light blue. The rough shoulders are commended by a yel∣low Moon drawn downwards, a white silver coloured apple makes the red eyes more sharp.

[illustration]

1. The eyes seem yellowish, the * 1.4 horns a decayed russet, the wings and all the rest of the body are a pale yellow; the inward wings are mar∣ked outwardly with one only full yellow spot, but inwardly they are tinctured with a certain black spot upon a watry green; the back is blackish from a blew, the belly is yellowish, it proceeds from an Au∣relia coloured with gold.

2. The second is not so pleasing a colour, the inward wings from a fading blew, decline to a Crane colour, and end as it were into a lead-colour, the outward wings are blacker, noted here and there with dark spots, and the body seems to be the same, it flies rudely with dented wings, and retched in the borders, and as it were prickly, and like a mourner of that kinde, it ne∣ver comes forth but in mourning apparell.

3. We have painted out this, as it were stiffe and raising it self with the wings lifted up, it hath also prickly dents, but the outward wing from a pale yellow is marked with the black pieces; but the next part of the inward wing from the root is dark black, the middle part is pale, the last part is whitish, chequered with right and thwart fibres; the body appears dusky, the eye is black as pitch, the horns are black.

4. This is distinguished two waies; for when she opens either wing to ballance her body, the body shewes black, and four dark wings fastned to it ridged as it were with a black pencil, and ending in a shining rusty colour; but when it sits on flowers and lifts up the wings, the first wing is yellowish, adorned with a comely round spot like a target, the colour whereofis pale, the boss of it black, the out∣ward circle citron coloured; the belly, and breast, and the whole face are white; the black horns incline toward a yellow.

5. It seems inside and outside all alike; the head and wings look pale; the body is wan, as also the horns; the eyes are flaming red, the shoulders are hairy with a pale down.

When it stretcheth its wings towards you, it appears a shining sandy colour, like herb dragon, with black spots: the body also if you see the back, seems a watry black, the belly somewhat more dark; they eye is black, clearwith a white or whitish apple; the horns are black as a crow the wings from you are of an unpleasant brown, and of a decayed Weesil∣colour.

[illustration]

7. The Jagged wings represent a fire-stone, shi∣ning with brasse coloured little veins, and the skirt also being sprinkled with black spots; the whole body is of a shining black but that white points divide the horns, and in the black forehead golden eyes twinkle after a sort.

8. This hath the same kinde of body, but the horns are reddish from yellow, the wings appear changeable, marked with divers pleats, ridges, borders, skirts, of many colours: all these colours are sad and dull to the eye, they want all clear∣nesse and varnish, and are pleasant only in their mixture, placing, and number; in some places they represent a smoky flame, elsewhere an un∣pleasing dark colour, and a fading red; and the rubies included in the last border in white semi∣circles are nothing lively.

9. The outward wings are spotted with dirty muddy spots, about the last part they are adorned with a black target, the middle whereof is set forth with an ivory point: the inward wings have four such targets, but augmented with a yellow circle besides; the two middlemost are of a fit magnitude, the two outmost are very small; the body of this creature is a whitish dark, the eyes that stick out are black: but if you look upon the inward part of the inmost wing, they look smoky, and they are very beautifull, with six gilded leaves curiously disposed.

10. The head is a pure white, but some dusky and black spots adorn the milky wings, the back and sides are red from yellow, 9 or 10 black spots put under the cuts do adorn them.

11. In proportion, and almost in colour and form of the body it represents the Eagle amongst birds of prey. It hath narrower wings than other Butterflies, it hath as it were a broad feathery tail, the inward wings are not watry colou∣red, like the rest of the body, but red from yellow, or of a flame colour; it hath a crooked nose like the Eagle, a belly hoary, the horns are great and strong, of the same colour with the uppermost wings; the eyes are pretty well prominent, black, with a pupill white as snow.

12. This hath the same form, it only dif∣fers in colour. The body is ash-colour, the tail is black, and the back is something, silver coloured; the wings are long and blackish, and polluted with little black spots, the in∣ward wings appear dusky dark coloured; both these kindes of Butterflies are wonder∣full swift, and dare for flight to contend with the Eagle.

[illustration]

13. This is the swiftest of all, and hath shoulders seeming of a yellow moss colour; the wings are white as milk, in the extre∣mities of them they are marked with five or six dusky feathers, the middle of the yellowish back is adorned with a cole black spot, of both sides two downy extuberances are thrust forth, the rump is compassed about with a certain black down, it will-fly as fast as any Swallow, and indeed is swifter than any Bird.

We have seen but eight of the smaller kinde.

1. The first parts of the inner wings are of a full bright shi∣ning * 1.5 scarlet colour, and delicate red, but the outward wings represent a light purple, mingled of black and red, and drawn over with some snow white spots, the rest of the body is black, even the branched horns also.

2. This is silver colour at the roots of the wings, which af∣terwards are purple coloured from blue; the uppermost wings are graced inwardly with two black white studs; the body is full of dusky spots; it hath six purple feet, three put forth on each side; it hath a crooked bill; out of the head four small horns break forth, besides the two long ones.

3. If you should see this fly, you would say that the wings are of a de∣cayed purple colour passing to a lively blue, and all plighted severally, but inwardly there are round eyes, they seem more gray and cankered; the head is blue from green, the body is deckt with dusky and white laces; the eyes seem very black, and the apples of them very white.

4. It comes in a pleasant habit, with wings set with eyes, that are of a most heavenly incomparable blew. The most perfect artificer Nature it self made it all eyes; that you would say directly, that Argus eyes were not set into the Peacocks tail, but into the wings of this Butterfly, which she doth stretch out against the Sun with no lesse pride than the Peacock doth, and (by the heavenly colour which she excels in) she is almost able to shame the Peacock.

5. The body is of a Crane colour, the upper wings are green in a white stalk; in the middle they are yellow and ash-colour, the inferior wings are at the root of a dark green, otherwise whole, but inwardly they are sprinkled often with spots of an unpleasant green; the eyes are black, as are the heads of their horns.

[illustration]

6. It hath round buncht smooth shoulders, which are of the colour of ashes mingled with ink, the body is full of cuts, and is of an ash kinde of colour; it hath narrow wings, and the utmost are of a Crane colour shining with some exceeding bloud red drops, the little head, the feet, the horns are like the body in colour.

[illustration]

7. You would say, that this is kin to that is bred of Ginny pepper, and setting aside that it is lesse and more black in body ••nd the silver co∣lour of his upper wings, it hardly differs from that.

8. All the wings are faint clay colour, or rather shining with a pale yellow, with some brown spots, and others that represent old cankered colours, the little eyes are black as a raven, otherwise it is all yellow.

9. All the wings are painted with white and gray like sea shell-fish, the borders are rounded, and deckt with white sines running through the middle with indentures.

10. This hath wings like Perwinkle shels, set with studs, it is mingled colour of a white and obscure red, and doth set forth to us the unspeakable power of God in the diversity of its colours.

Of the use of Butterflies.

He that beholds the forms, clothing, elegancy, and rich habits of the Butterflies, how canhe choose but admire the bountisul God, who is the Author and giver of so rich treasure? where∣fore art thou proud in decking thy self, and takest so much delight in thy own beauty? possess thy temporary fading goods without envie, for know that there is no Butterfly but is as beautiful and pleasing, and for the length of their life they have a more constan•• comeliness than thou hast: thou hast it may be an incredible agility of body, and numbleness in running, but yet O man if thou shouldest exceed all men, thou canst not equall a Butterfly. But you will reply that your cloathing is incomparable, and that you can boast of the Persian and Tyrian silk, of the best pur∣ple dyes, brought unto you by shipping: truly should you but see the rich robes of any Butter-fly, besides their purple dyes, and the rowes of pearls, and the borders set with diamonds, rubies, the pyropus, opals, emrods; if you did but see and consider seriously the elaborate composition of their futures and joynts and the imbroidered work here and there, of fine divers coloured twine silk set with studs and eyes of gold and silver, thou wouldst let fall thy painted tail like the Peacock, and casting thy eyes down to the ground from whence thou wert made, thou wouldst learn to be more wise. It may be thou wert born at first in a house of clay and mud walls, or else in a pa∣lace built of polished stones; but some Butterflies are born in their houses that are the Aureliae like to pure gold, and exceed Attalus for the excellency of their birth, and delicacy of their ap∣parel. Learn therefore O mortal Man, who ever thou art, that God that is best and greatest of all, made the butterfly to pull down thy pride, and by the shorrness of their life (which is of no great continuance) be thou mindful of thy own failing condition. We••t thou as strong as Milo or Hercules, and wert fenced or guarded about with an host of Giants for force and valour; remember that such an Army was put to the worst by an army of Butterflies flying in Troops in the air, in the year 1104. and they hid the light of the Sun like a cloud. Licosthenes relates, that on the third day of August, 1543. that no hea••b was left by reason of their multitudes, and they had cevoured all the sweet dew and natural moisture, and they had burn'd up the very grasle that was consumed with their dry dung. Also in the year 1553. as Sleidanus reports, a little before the death of Mauritius

the Duke of Saxony, an infinite Army of Butterflies flew through great part of Germany, and did in∣fect the grasse, herbs, trees, houses and garments of men with bloudy drops, as though it had rai∣ned bloud. But it may be thou art in love with some female beauty, and desirest to please her; O fool, remember the fate of the Phalena Butterfly, which being invited by the light of the can∣dle, as by a fair beauty, is consumed by the flame it fell in love withall: and rejoycing like the Pyrausta bred in the fire, removing but a little from it is presently dead. And thou great Astro∣loger, who makest Aries to be the forerunner of the Spring, rather adore the Butterfly that is a certain messenger of the Spring, and a more sure prophet than your horned Ram. Would you al∣lure fish to your hook, and catch them? hear what gallant baits are made, as we finde it in the Tarentine Geopon. Take 1 ounce of the venomous dung of Butterflies, Anniseed, Goats-milk cheese, Hogs bloud, Galbanum, of each half an ounce, Opopanax 2 drams, beat them all diligently, and powring on good sharp Wine, make Troches, dry them in the Sun and keep them for your use. Castrels, and almost all birds of prey are freed from consumptions by feeding on Butterflies, and grow very fat thereby. Nicolaus in a composition of some powder, makes mention of burnt Butterflies; by which words Turnebus understands Butterflies that fly to the candles: they cause urine exceedingly, as almost all Insects do, but with less danger: moreover, since they feed on dew alone, as do snails, and abhor to meddle with sharp corroding or stinking things, or such as have any venomous or malignant quality in them; truly the Colledge of Physicians are too wayward that dare prescribe a Spanish fly inwardly, yet never made an essay to know what force there is in Butterflies. Plinius saith wisely; That our greatest knowledge is very small compared to that we are ignorant of: for some small creatures upon the earth are despised, whose force, if we did know it, we should praise to the skies. You therefore sons of Aesculapius, search out the vertues of But∣terflies to be used inwardly and outwardly, for the health of the body; for had Butterflies been useless, surely God would never have set them forth, bestowing so great liberality upon them. But since they are not only for a remedy for us, but may do us much hurt, being inwardly taken in too great a quantity, as being poyson; I shall shew how that may be prevented, and driven off, if Ardoynus deceive me not. Phalenae or night Butterflies, such as fly at candles at night, it may be were accounted of ancient time amongst dangerous medicaments, for the same reason that Toads, Bats, Owls, Howlets and Gnats were; for they held that all living creatures that labour in the day were safe to be used; but night-workers most unhappy and accursed. Pliny com∣mends a Goats liver to drive them away, yet he shews not the means to use it. But if night Mothes go into a Bee-hive and trouble Bees in the night, bury dung mingled with the marrow of an Oxe, and by the smell thereof these unquiet disturbers will presently fall down. Columella. Palladius, in April, (for then they commonly do most hurt) places a brass vessel between▪ the hives, that is high and narrow, and puts a lighted candle in the bottom of it, and they will come in there for love of the light, and there they are half burnt, or choaked by the smoak in the nar∣row vessel. Bitter vetches are held amongst edible herbs, to prevail most against Butterflies; others drive them away with smoak of ••ith and Hemlock, as Rhasis: others hang a horse tail pulled off, upon the door, and they wittily believe that Moths are kept away thereby. Thus much I had to say of the divers use of Butterflies; who though some despise them, yet are they of great use and admirable.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Description.
• * 1.2

  Copulation.
• * 1.3

  Difference of Butterflies.
• * 1.4

  The middle sort of Day-Butterflies.
• * 1.5

  The smal∣ler Day-Butterflies.