BUTTERFLY, or Papilio, in zoology, a well known insect, of which there are 273 species, principally distinguished by the colour of their wings.
The beauties of this elegant part of the creation, excite the admiration of every contemplative mind. Many persons, who conceive butterflies to be of a poisonous nature, are frequently under apprehension lest they should eat them with herbs and salads; but such alarm is groundless, as they are perfectly harmless, and equally eatable as snails and oysters.
Mr. Edwards, in his "Natural History of Birds," gives the following curious directions for taking the figure of these insects: Take butterflies, or field-moths, clip off the wings close to their bodies, and lay them on clean paper, in the form of the insect when flying; then have ready prepared gum-arabic, which has been some time dissolved in water, and is of a thick consistence; then pour a drop of ox-gall into a spoonful of this liquid, mix it well together, and spread a little of it on a piece of thin, white paper, wide enough to take both sides of the fly; when it begins to feel clammy, the paper is in proper order to take the down from its wings; lay the gummed side on the wings, and it will adhere so as to take them up; then double the paper, so as to have all the wings between it; lay it on a table, pressing it close with the fingers, or it may be rubbed gently with something hard and smooth; after which, on opening the paper, the wings will come forth transparent; the down of the upper and under sides, adhering to the gummed paper, forms an accurate likeness of both sides of the wings, in their natural shape and colour.
When the gummed papers have been opened, the bodies of the flies should be copied from the natural ones, upon stiff, and separate paper, painted in water colours, and fixed between the representations of the wings.