English name of a numerous genus of insects. See Papilio.

Butterfly-Shell, in natural history. See Voluta.

Method of preserving Butterflies. See Insects.

Method of making Pictures of Butterflies. "Butterflies or field-moths, either those caught abroad, or such as are taken in caterpillars and nurfed in the house till they be flies; clip off their wings very close to their bodies, and lay them on clean paper, in the form of a butterfly when flying; then have ready prepared gum arabic that hath been some time dissolved in water, and is pretty thick; if you put a drop of ox-gall into a spoonful of this, it will be better for the use; temper them well with your finger, and spread a little of it on a piece of thin white paper, big enough to take both sides of your fly; when it begins to be clammy under your finger, the paper is in proper order to take the feathers from the wings of the fly; then lay the gummed side on the wings, and it will take them up; then double your paper so as to have all the wings between the paper; then lay it on a table, pressing it close with your fingers; and you may rub it gently with some smooth hard thing; then open the paper and take out the wings, which will come forth transparent: the down of the upper and under side of the wings, sticking to the gummed paper, form a just likeness of both sides of the wings in their natural shapes and colours. The nicety of taking off flies depends on a just degree of moisture of the gum'd paper: for if it be too wet, all will be blotted and confused; and if too dry, your paper will stick so fast together, that it will be torn in separation. When you have opened your gum'd papers, and they are dry, you must draw the bodies from the natural ones, and paint them in water-colours: you must take paper that will bear ink very well for this use; for sticking paper will separate with the rest, and spoil all."